An infringement notice was issued to a resident of Bicheno under the Dog Control Act 2000 for failure to ensure a dog is not at large, after 30 penguins were killed near Waubs Bay Beach last month.
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Earlier in the week, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment officers were inspecting burrows when they observed a dog in the rookery.
The dog was traced back to a home in the area, and the infringement notice was issued after the owner was interviewed.
Alongside the infringement, potential further offences under Crown Land Regulations were also being investigated.
The bodies of the penguins killed in November were collected and taken to the department’s Mount Pleasant laboratory for veterinary pathology in an effort to determine the cause of death.
DPIPWE were alerted to the deaths by a member of the public.
The dog was not linked to the killing of the penguins in November, however investigations into the matter were continuing.
Investigators have received strong community support, and are continuing to follow up information provided by the community.
“We are appreciative of the public support so far that saw the discovery of the birds promptly reported,” Wildlife Enforcement Section head Luke Bond said.
In June, 12 penguins were found dead at Low Head.
Contact the department’s Wildlife Enforcement Section on 0417 661 234 with any information. Information can be provided anonymously.