There will be a new maremma taking to the shores of Middle Island to protect the penguins.
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The yet-to-be-named puppy is the half-brother of current guardians Mezzo and Isola and was born in June.
He has been training with the existing guardian dogs since he was eight weeks old and Middle Island Maremma Penguin Project coordinator Dr Patricia Corbett said the puppy is already showing signs of becoming a great guardian dog.
"He is certainly the most confident pup we have had involved in the project so far," she said.
"He has been to Stingray Bay and Middle Island regularly and is beginning to recognise it as his territory.
"Another huge positive is that he is getting on really well with the other dogs.
"The puppy has the same mum as Mezzo and the same dad as Isola, so there's a bit of a family connection already forming, especially with Mezzo; they're best friends."
Dr Corbett said the new puppy, Mezzo and Isola would become the project's three guardian dogs going forward after the retirement of Tula in October and Eudy's last season coming up.
"This year marks a real changing of the guard," she said.
"Having three active guardian dogs instead of two means we can rotate the dogs more regularly and if one of them is injured or sick, we can give them a proper rest and still have two dogs on duty."
If you have a naming suggestion visit the Middle Island Maremma Penguin Project Facebook page.
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