THE success of the Middle Island Maremma Project can be measured by the steady increase of little penguins.
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With less then 10 penguins recorded there in 2005, the Warrnambool island has seen the numbers rise to about 187.
Yesterday, about 70 people gathered at the Harbour Pavilion to celebrate the end of the breeding season and find out how the project was going.
Lauren Kivisalu, from Nature Glenelg Trust, said the success was due to the ongoing partnerships between Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare, Warrnambool City Council and support from the community.
“It’s critical that we see that continue into the future,” she said.
“We’re steadily seeing an increase.”
The world-first trial to train Maremma dogs to protect the penguins from predators began in 2006 and is credited with strengthening the population, which dwindled to four in 2005.
Ms Kivisalu said that in 2005, 268 penguins were killed.
The numbers were decimated from 800 in 2000.
The Maremmas protect the penguins from foxes and other predators.
Ms Kivisalu said volunteers who monitor the dusk counts during the breeding season from September to March had contributed about 280 hours to the project.
She said yesterday’s celebration was to acknowledge everyone who had been involved with the project.
cquirk@fairfaxmedia.com.au
