Maremma guardian dogs are well known for protecting Middle Island's Little Penguins - they are also critical to the wellbeing of the island's shearwater colony.
"The intrigue and cuteness of the penguins capture the public's imagination but the short-tailed shearwaters are also an important part of marine and coastal ecology and the dogs help ensure they don't fall victim to foxes," Middle Island Project Officer Ashlyn Clark said.
The shearwaters, like the penguins, are ground-nesting and therefore their survival during the breeding season also relies on Council's conservation management techniques including the maremma guardian dogs, fox baiting and fox den fumigation to reduce the threat of predation.
"There are scores of shearwaters which nest alongside penguins on Middle Island," Ms Clark said.
"During the breeding season they return to Middle Island in an ungainly fashion - more a crash landing than a graceful arrival."
The conservation project offers a public education experience, Penguin Protectors Warrnambool, which gives participants an insight into the dogs and how the Middle Island conservation project operates. It is already booked out over November however there are still places available in the December and January program.
Among the maremmas harnessing up for another season is Amor, named after highly regarded Warrnambool conservationist, John Amor, who died in 2010.
Amor is an ambassador dog and an important part of the Penguin Protectors experience.
"Amor is enthusiastic about the ambassador role and while his age is starting to show a little, he still loves getting out and about and the vet has given him the all-clear to be part of the 2024-2025 program," Ms Clark said.
Another dog, Avis, named after World War II veteran, photographer and historian, the late Avis Quarrell, will share ambassadorial duties with Amor.
"Work on the island is done by our serious working maremmas - Mezzo, Isola and Oberon - who are regularly on-site during the breeding season and leave their scent and fur which act as deterrents to predators."
To learn more about the Middle Island Project or to book a place on a Penguin Protectors session go to www.warrnamboolpenguins.com.au
