Middle Island - Maremma Penguin Project

Middle Island - Maremma Penguin Project For many years the local colony of Little Penguins was being reduced by foxes that wade out at low tide and take penguins and their chicks.
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Warrnambool City Council developed a project with the community to use Maremma Dogs to protect the penguins. Warrnambool’s Middle Island is home to seabirds such as the Short-tailed Shearwater, the Black-faced Cormorant and the Little Penguin. The Little Penguin population had been decimated by fox predation over the years, with an estimated 600 penguins in 1999 reduced to less than 10 by 2005. Si

nce 2006 Maremma Guardian Dogs have been trained to protect Middle Island’s Little Penguins from foxes, allowing the population to slowly build to well over 100 penguins today. This world first award winning project relies on the assistance of businesses, organisations and volunteers to help with penguin counts, penguin breeding monitoring and improving habitat for penguins by revegetating areas with native species. If you want to help support the Middle Island Maremma Project please contact Warrnambool City Council on 5559 4876. If you would like to help volunteer please visit www.wclg.com.au

Please Note - Whilst we respect Swampy Marsh with coming up with the original idea to use maremmas on Middle Island, Swampy is no longer part of the Middle Island Project

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Although the Little Penguin breeding season has come to a close and penguins will be spending most of their time out to ...
06/05/2026

Although the Little Penguin breeding season has come to a close and penguins will be spending most of their time out to sea, the guardian dogs job is not done. As Oberon is doing here, they'll spend the quieter months scenting around Middle Island and the Warrnambool foreshore reminding foxes that they are still around and ready to protect any Little Penguins resting on Middle Island. 🐧🐧🐧

As the Little Penguin breeding season draws to a close, we would like to celebrate another year of successfully deterrin...
26/03/2026

As the Little Penguin breeding season draws to a close, we would like to celebrate another year of successfully deterring foxes from accessing Middle Island.

Each season comes with it's own unique challenges, but also special highlights as well! Highlights of this season include:

- Evidence of successful Little Penguin breeding and fledging.

- All three guardian dogs deployed on Middle Island for safely scheduled visits, deterring fox access and safeguarding the birdlife of Middle Island.

- An expanded education program, reaching nearly 500 people and increasing awareness and education about the important work our Maremma dogs do on Middle Island. All proceeds go directly towards the care of the Maremma dogs and conservation of Little Penguins.

Thank you to all who have contributed to this year's success. The Maremma guardians will continue to access and guard Middle Island throughout the year when safely possible, ready for the arrival of Little Penguins later this year.🐾🐧

📷 Guardian dog Oberon in front of Middle Island.

Address

Viaduct Road
Warrnambool, VIC
3280

Telephone

1800 556 111

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