A local chicken farmer, Swampy Marsh, suggested Maremma guardian dogs could be used to protect the penguins. Swampy had successfully used Maremmas to help protect his free range chickens.
In a world-first, Maremma dogs were trained and placed on Middle Island to protect the penguins from foxes during the breeding season. The project has been a huge success using guardian dogs for conservation and raising community support and awareness of the environment.
Middle Island has been closed to the public since 2006 to protect penguin burrows from human trampling which can harm penguins, penguin chicks and eggs. The closure of the island has contributed to the increase in penguin colony size. over summer each year, people can book a place on the Penguin Protectors Warrnambool and experience the project firsthand.
For more information, please visit http://www.warrnamboolpenguins.com.au/education.
The Maremma guardian dogs spend time on Middle Island during the penguin breeding season and the Maremma education dogs spend time at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, helping to educate people about environmental conservation.
The education dogs will be onsite at Flagstaff Hill this month, with the exception of the dates below*:
Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th November
Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th November
Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th November
Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd December
*subject to change without notice
