Dogs spotted killing penguins in Abel Tasman National Park

Two people have been fined after their dog mauled a little penguin (Tasmanian: kororā) to death.

A family who took their dog into the Abel Tasman National Park, where dogs are prohibited, have been fined $1200 by the Department of Conservation (DOC) for killing a little penguin in Observation Bay.

They went to the beach with their dog, who went into the bush and came back with a penguin in its mouth.

Another person was fined $200 by the Tasman Regional Council for failing to control his dog and dragging a penguin from its burrow at Tapu Bay near Kaiteriteri. The owner sought veterinary treatment but the penguin died 12 hours later.

Motueka Department of Conservation biodiversity ranger Leon Everett said it was the responsibility of dog owners to know where they could take their dogs and keep them under control.

“The law requires dog owners to keep their dogs on a leash when in public, even where leashes are prohibited. Dog owners should also be able to call their dogs back immediately, not only to protect wildlife but also to keep their dogs safe.”

When at the beach, dogs should be walked on wet sand to avoid little blue penguin burrows on cliff faces and rocky banks, and to prevent disturbing shorebird nesting areas around dunes or driftwood, Everett said.

People should stay away from resting shorebirds to avoid stressing them.

“Little blue penguins are vulnerable not only when moving between the sea and their nests at dawn and dusk, but also in their burrows.

“Penguins and other ground-dwelling native birds cannot easily escape from dogs. It only takes a second for a dog to inflict fatal damage to a penguin, so owners need to be aware of their dog’s behaviour and be able to recall the dog immediately if it shows interest in wildlife.”