Continued attacks on penguin colonies could have far reaching impacts on the state’s tourism industry, according to BirdLife convener Dr Eric Woehler.
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On Monday 58 penguins were found dead at the Low Head conservation area, from a suspected dog attack.
It comes just months after 12 penguins were found dead in a rubbish bin at Low Head Coastal Reserve, also believed to have been killed by dogs.
With October marking the start of the breeding season, Dr Woehler said continued attacks on penguin colonies could have a catastrophic impact on local commercial penguin watching businesses.
“On my count their have been six significant penguin attacks in Tasmania this year,” he said.
“Our state’s tourism is booming and penguins are a very big part of that.
“Look at places like Bicheno, Bruny Island and like Low Head.
“These attacks don’t just kill the penguins, they have the potential to kill the local economy as well.
“Ecotourism is a global, billion dollar industry and their is so much interest in it at the moment.
“We need to be doing more to protect it.”
In other news:
Low Head Penguin Tours operator Shirley Lincoln said she was very upset about the latest penguin attack.
Ms Lincoln has been operating penguin tours at Low Head since 1996, but said she didn’t want to see the issue “blown out of proportion”.
“It is in the hands of Parks and Wildlife and I cannot fault what they have done this week, in terms of the investigation,” she said.
“Book a tour – there are still plenty of penguins.”
BirdLife Tasmania have called for harsher penalties for dog owners who fail to comply with standards outlined in the National Parks and Reserves Land Regulations 2009 and the Dog Control Act 2000.
Dr Woehler said the issue should not be downplayed.
“For every one of these penguin attacks that occurs, our colonies are getting smaller,” he said.
“If every one of those 58 penguins had a partners, that is 58 breeding attempts that will not occur this season.
“There are significant long term and short term consequences of that – it is a catastrophic impact and a preventable impact.
“There is no reason for this to have happened, if the dog owners took the proper responsibility for their pets.”
The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment are continuing to investigate the latest attack at Low Head.
A DPIPWE spokeswoman said numerous calls had been received, following an appeal for public assistance on Wednesday.
“The information provided is being reviewed by staff and will be acted upon accordingly,” the spokeswoman said.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact DPIPWE’s Wildlife Operations Branch on 0427 437 020, PWS on 1300 827 727 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Information can be provided anonymously.
Penalties for wildlife offences, depending on the nature and location, can include:
- Dog Control Act 2000 – The owner or person in charge of a dog must ensure that the dog is not at large, maximum penalty of a fine of $815.
- Animal Welfare Act 1993 – aggravated cruelty carries a maximum penalty of a fine of $32, 600 and or five years imprisonment.
- Wildlife (general) Regulations 2010 – unlawful taking of protected wildlife carries a maximum penalty of a fine of $16, 300.
- National Parks and Reserve Land Regulations 2009 – where a person allows a dog owned or being kept by that person on reserved land that is not a designated dog-exercising area, the maximum penalty is a fine of $3260.
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