Spotlight on little penguin threats

LITTLE penguins have made big news in recent times, with the threats they face ranging from wild dog and feral cat attacks, to marine plastics and climate change.

In one case, six little penguins were beaten to death by two teenagers who were drinking at a beach, near Burnie, on New Year’s Day, 2016.

Efforts to protect little penguins will be discussed at a forum in the North-West town of Penguin tonight.

“There have been too many horror stories of penguins being lost to wild dogs, feral cats and even wider threats like marine plastics, fishing and climate change,” forum host, Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said.

“[At the forum] the public can hear from people who are doing incredible work to save these precious creatures and we will discuss what other things can be done to secure their existence.”

The penguin deaths at Sulphur Creek last year sparked community outrage.

Joshua Leigh Jeffrey, 20, of Sulphur Creek, was sentenced to 49 hours of community services and ordered to pay court costs of $82. The state’s Direc- tor of Public Prosecutions this month lodged an appeal against the sentence.

The appeal will be heard in the Supreme Court in Burnie at a later date. The other teenager involved was dealt with by the youth justice system.

Since 2005, more than 270 penguins have been killed by dogs on Tasmanian beaches.

The forum will be held at the Penguin Surf Life Saving Club from 6.45pm.

Speakers are Cradle Coast NRM coastal care co-ordinator Anna Wind, penguin specialist Dr Perviz Marker, and penguin carer Kathy Grieveson.