In the wake of the death of Oddball, the beloved Maremma dog who first protected Warrnambool’s penguin colony, volunteers have urged people not to forget the threatened birds.
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Coastcare Landcare Network’s Melanie Wells, who coordinates a volunteer program to monitor Middle Island’s little penguin colony, said the iconic dog’s death was very sad.
“She leaves behind a lasting legacy,” she said.
“Even though she paved the way for the conservation project it’s important to note that the whole reason why we have dogs out there is to protect our threatened little penguin colony.”
Ms Wells said although the colony had partly recovered since the program started – more than 250 penguins were counted this season – prior to fox predation the colony had approximately 900 birds.
She said strong community support had made the recovery possible, and it was critical people continued to assist.
Ms Wells said despite the popularity of the film the project inspired and the increase in tourism, it was still a struggle to raise money to continue the penguin monitoring.
She said although mayor Kylie Gaston suggested Oddball should be honoured with a statue, the money could be better spent ensuring the future of the penguin colony the dogs protect.
“The fact is Oddball had a job – protecting the penguins – and the penguin colony is still under threat,” she said.
Warrnambool’s Coastcare Landcare Network recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to support its work over the next two years.
Visit chuffed.org/project/help-save-penguins to learn about the group’s crowdfunding efforts and to donate.
