Middle Island, Wildlife sanctuary island near Warrnambool, Australia
Middle Island is a small rocky island in Stingray Bay near Warrnambool that serves as a breeding ground for little penguins and short-tailed shearwaters. The island spans approximately two hectares and provides the conditions these seabirds need to reproduce.
The island experienced a sharp decline in penguin populations in the early 2000s due to predation by foxes. An innovative protection program using herding dogs helped restore the bird populations successfully.
The island is known for its rescue mission that used herding dogs to protect penguins. This unusual partnership between humans, dogs, and birds has become a model for creative conservation efforts.
The island is closed to the public to protect the breeding birds and requires special permits for scientific or monitoring visits. The best time to spot penguins from the mainland is during the breeding season from October to March.
The island was the site of an unusual experiment where Italian sheepherds called Maremma dogs were deployed to protect penguins from predators. These dogs patrolled the island several times per week and allowed breeding colonies to grow from fewer than a dozen to over two hundred birds.
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