Middle Island Maremma Project has operated as a community partnership between Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare, Warrnambool City Council, Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Deakin University.

Middle Island is located just off the Warrnambool Breakwater. Middle Island went from an approx penguin breeding population of 800 penguins in 1999, to less than 10 identified birds in the 2005 breeding season. This decline was primarily through fox attacks - the largest attack resulted in 380 birds (penguins and Shearwaters).

Something had to change - and it did!!

In 2006 maremma dogs were trialled to protect the penguins by living on the island through the summer breeding season. Since this time, after a lot of hard work by all the partners, no penguins have been lost to fox encroachment since.


The population is now estimated to be 150 Little penguin. Take a look at this clip that details the history of the project.

What its all about

我们的项目

资金如何被使用？

我的一些其它工作

挑战

看看这个可爱的小企鹅

Our current dogs ( Eudy and Tula ) are now 8 years old and its time to start planning their retirement. This funding campaign will allow us to purchase two maremma pups and then train them over two summer breeding seasons. 

Eudy and Tula will become ambassador dogs to the project.

If we raise more than $25,000 we can further train the dogs, create new housing for them both on and off island and also provide funding for Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare to coordinate the volunteers that monitor penguin breeding and evening arrivals.

Please Note - Maremma dogs are difficult to train and are working dogs. Like any purchase of a dog you must research the breed and only purchase if your lifestyle suits the breeds traits.

We have a Middle Island Maremma Dog Plan that outlines the challenges, risks as well as the prior learnings we have gained in training maremma penguin guardians. We also use the Guardian Dog Best Practice Guide (that we contributed to developing) to oversee our training plans.

The project has an oversight working group that includes Deakin University staff and students. Look at our website for a range of fact sheets that we have developed. www.warrnamboolpenguins.com.au

Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Group are the penguin monitors - this includes penguin counts and breeding monitoring. The engage Glenelg Nature Trust to coordinate volunteer counts and report the results. Any additional funds we can get from this campaign will also assist in supporting this work.