Middle Island Maremma Project

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 has been decimated by fox predation over the years, with an estimated 600 penguins in 1999 reduced to less than 10 by 2005.

Since 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

Find out how this innovative project began by clicking on the video link.

Little Penguin Facts

The Little Penguin, the smallest of the penguin species, stands 40cm tall and weighs about 1kg. They can swim up to 8km/hr and dive as deep as 50m.

Little Penguins live mostly in the ocean, using land to molt feathers and to breed. Penguins breed from around 3 years of age, digging nesting burrows and using artificial nesting boxes to raise their young from August to February.