Snipers will stand guard over Sydney’s endangered penguins until vicious attacks on them stop, wildlife experts say. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has employed marksmen to protect the colony of about 120 little penguins at Manly and North Head for “as long as necessary”. Nine of the penguins have been mauled to death on the area’s beaches in the past fortnight, the most recent at Quarantine Beach on Saturday. It is believed foxes or dogs are responsible. … Manly Environment Centre has mounted its own patrols to guard the penguins. It says efforts have been hampered because some of the attacks have taken place on private beaches where access is restricted. “We’ve had no deaths in the areas we patrol for the last five years,” the group’s spokeswoman Angelika Treichler said. She said the attacks were happening at dusk when the penguins return to shore and urged dog owners to keep their animals on leashes.
Manly penguins get sniper bodyguard Technorati Tags: endangered species,Australia,penguin,bird decline
