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Sheepdog who protected Middle Island penguin chicks from fox attacks in Australia retires

Freja

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Sheepdog who protects penguin chicks from fox attacks in southern Australia retires due to arthritis after ten years of loyal service
  • Maremma sheepdogs used to guard penguins on Middle Island since 2006
  • Project was started after repeated fox attacks cut the colony to just 10 penguins
  • The penguin population on the island, off the Victorian coast, is now recovering
  • One of the sheepdogs, Tula, is now retiring after nearly 10 years due to arthritis
Tula the maremma sheepdog is retiring after spending nearly a decade protecting a colony of breeding penguins in southern Australia from fox attacks.

The 11-year-old hound and her sister Eudy have been guarding Middle Island, just off the Victorian coast near Warrnambool, since they were two-year-old puppies.

But now the loyal servant has to give up her dayjob after suffering from pain in her joints.

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The 11-year-old hound (left) and her sister Eudy (right) have been guarding Middle Island, just off the Victorian coast near Warrnambool, since they were two-year-old puppies

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Little Penguin chicks found in a burrow on Middle Island are an easy target for foxes so they sheepdogs are brought in to protect them

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Tula the Maremma sheepdog is retiring after spending nearly a decade protecting a colony of breeding penguins in southern Australia from fox attacks

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A new Maremma pup named Mezzo has been trained up to take over Tula's role, while Eudy will stay on for another season

'She's got a bit of arthritis so she finds it really difficult to get up all those flights of stairs on to the top of Middle Island,' Middle Island Project coordinator Patricia Corbett told the ABC.

A new Maremma pup named Mezzo has been trained up to take over Tula's role, while Eudy will stay on for another season.

Tula won't be bored, however, as she will be taking on another role mentoring younger guardian dogs and protecting chickens at a farm where she spends the off-season.

'Maremmas don't like to not have a job, so she's going to be continuing on her role in a different way,' Ms Corbett said.

Middle Island is a breeding ground for Little Penguins, also known as Fairy Penguins, which are found along the southern coastlines of Australia and New Zealand.

They are the smallest species of penguin measuring just 33cm on average and have a distinct blue colour on their backs fading to white on their bellies.

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Tula and Eudy take a final walk around Middle Island before Tula's retirement

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A volunteer holding a Little Penguin chick from the colony on the island

The Middle Island Maremma Project began in 2006 when the island's penguin population plummeted to about 10 due to fox attacks.

The Maremma dogs, originally bred to protect sheep herds, form a bond with the penguins and guard them against foxes which are common in the Warrnambool region.

The idea that Maremmas could protect penguin colonies inspired the 2015 film Oddball based on the project.

Except for a 2017 incident in which bad weather kept the dogs away and 140 Little Penguins were killed by foxes, the penguin colony has been recovering ever since the introduction of the dogs.

Tula's handlers will throw her a retirement party as a fitting send off for her years of hard work.

'We're going to have a special cake for her. We'll send her off in style,' Ms Corbett said.

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Little Penguins, also known as Fairy Penguins, are common on the southern Australian coast

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The Middle Island Maremma Project has been a success bringing the colony back from almost being wiped out

Maremma Sheepdog who protected Middle Island penguins in southern Australia retires | Daily Mail Online
 

Freja

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Penguins dont live in the north pole with santa?
There's penguins who live in warm climate too. I learned that recently. We only get to see the ones in cold climate. There is one specie that lives near the equator, at the Galapagos islands.
 

Lewa

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Around the corner from me is some farm land where the people have four of these dogs with several farm animals. I saw two of them chasing(more like escorting) a donkey from the front of their people’s house lol . I guess the animals are supposed to stay away from the main yard. They guard the sheep too. Seem like good responsible dogs.
 

Victoria Baker Harber

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Eudy the sister wants to retire too! Haha, I guess her final year will go by quick guiding the replacement pup and then she and Tula can relax.

I wonder if the baby penguin and parents will attend the retirement party lol? All the animals involved are so cute.

Had no idea penguins live in nice warm climates either!
 

Naomii

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Penguins dont live in the north pole with santa?

There are no penguins in the north pole or even the Northern Hemisphere. There are found exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere with exception of the Galapagos Penguin which is on the equator.
 

Lilly Ghalichi

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There are no penguins in the north pole or even the Northern Hemisphere. There are found exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere with exception of the Galapagos Penguin which is on the equator.
My mind is blown. Why do they always show the films with santa in the north pole with them then.
 

krikzil

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What beautiful dogs. I love when folks find a solution like this one. No foxes killed, babies protected and 2 working dogs get to do what they love.
 

Laura_Winslow

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Penguins dont live in the north pole with santa?

Remember penguins’ locale like this: Polar bears in the North Pole (like the Christmas Coke can) and penguins in the South Pole and some other places below the equator. Polar bears and penguins are never together. It’s not silly not to know that. It’s just the way they are portrayed in media that makes us think North Pole. Now that I think about it a few years ago we had penguins with Santa hats in our yard during Christmas. Lol!

ETA: The dogs are so cute!
 

Lilly Ghalichi

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Remember penguins’ locale like this: Polar bears in the North Pole (like the Christmas Coke can) and penguins in the South Pole and some other places below the equator. Polar bears and penguins are never together. It’s not silly not to know that. It’s just the way they are portrayed in media that makes us think North Pole. Now that I think about it a few years ago we had penguins with Santa hats in our yard during Christmas. Lol!

ETA: The dogs are so cute!
Omg on tv they're in the same segments too omg.
 

Princess36

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There's penguins who live in warm climate too. I learned that recently. We only get to see the ones in cold climate. There is one specie that lives near the equator, at the Galapagos islands.

Thanks for the info. You learn something new everyday :)
 

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