Penguin killing probe on hold

Timaru’s biggest penguin advocate has issued a plea to anyone with information relating to the alleged hit-and-run death of a little blue penguin on December 8 as an investigation into the incident comes to a standstill.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) has confirmed to Stuff that the case has been put on hold unless somebody who witnessed the incident on Marine Parade steps forward to make a statement.

‘‘The investigation into the death of the little penguin/korora allegedly deliberately run over is on hold,’’ DOC’s Geraldine operations manager, Duncan Toogood said.

‘‘Despite appealing to the public, we did not receive any other witness statements or any CCTV footage.

‘‘DOC will continue pursuing an investigation if more information comes to light.’’

Timaru Penguins co-ordinator Peter Bennett, who had been formally interviewed as a witness by a DOC ranger in December, has appealed to the two ‘‘local men’’ who were in a bright coloured car that night to come forward. ‘‘A small bright coloured car that pulled over had two older male occupants who witnessed exactly what all of us did,’’ Bennett said.

‘‘I am surprised they did not make a statement. They saw it all unfold too.’’

Bennett said he passed on all information he had about the car he says knocked down the penguin that night.

The fact that many witnesses were tourists had hampered the investigation, Bennett said.

‘‘The problem with witnesses is that most of them were tourists with a one night stay in Timaru.

‘‘There was a man there with his wife from Australia and a couple of ladies from the Netherlands.

‘‘But at the time getting names and information was not easy.’’

Bennett said DOC had done as much as it could with the investigation.

‘‘Obviously the volunteers are fully aware of how to operate and handle the situation if it occurs again.’’

PrimePort Timaru chief executive Phil Melhopt told Stuff on Thursday that camera footage from December 8 revealed no further information.

‘‘We drew a blank with CCTV footage on this occasion,’’ Melhopt said.

Bennett said closing off the area where the penguins nest would be tricky.

Melhopt said PrimePort could not patrol the area where the penguins roost because it had no jurisdiction over it.

‘‘The area in question comes under Timaru District Council control.’’

Timaru District mayor, Damon Odey, said the council was looking into safety option for the Marine Parade.

‘‘It is a council road and we are assessing options to improve the safety of the public and the penguins,’’ he said.