Maremma dogs are now safeguarding threatened penguins

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Foxes were introduced into Australia when our very early colonists wanted something to hunt. Like many introduced species, they have become a major pest and have been responsible for wiping out a number of our small native mammals. Foxes also exist on some of Australia’s islands and on Middle Island, off the coast of south-west Victoria, they have been responsible for reducing the penguin population to just ten. Middle Island is just 150 metres of the Warrambool foreshore and is connected to the mainland by a tidal sand bridge. It has had colonies of penguins for decades but attacks by foxes were threatening to wipe out the entire population. However, thanks to the introduction of Maremma dogs, fox attacks are becoming a thing of the past. These white Italian sheepdogs become bonded with whatever livestock they introduced to. We saw them in the Alps in France and they are becoming more common in our area protecting flocks of chooks (chickens), sheep or goats from predators. They live out with their flocks and are very protective. The signs in France warned tourists not to approach the dogs or their flocks. The use of the dogs on Middle Island has also been good for the local economy too with people stopping at the town to see the penguins and the dogs. While there, many buy food and/or fuel. Apparently there is a film Oddball, which features one of the Warranmbool Maremmas. Photo courtesy: Andy Fitzsimon from Brisbane, Australia [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons