As part of the Building our Conservation Dog Team for an Island Safe Haven project, the Nature Parks received $50,000 from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Nature Fund and matched support from the Penguin Foundation to recruit a trainee dog handler to improve the response and capability of the conservation dog team.

The traineeship combines a Certificate III in Dog Behaviour and Training with mentorship from Senior Vertebrate Pest Officer at the Nature Parks, Craig Bester, who brings over 40 years of expertise in dog training and handling. This will ensure the program continues to deliver impactful outcomes while nurturing skilled conservation professionals for the future.

This year, new trainer Zoe Kellett, joined Craig and the next generation of detection dogs, Marbee, Milly, Macey and Blaze.

The Nature Parks conservation dogs have been instrumental in investigating fox incursions on Phillip Island, including a two-month investigation in 2022. Before this, Phillip Island had been fox-free for five years.

Earlier this year, the conservation dogs were used to search for another fox after a series of sightings were reported from members of the public. A three-week search ultimately resulted in the team using night surveillance and thermal equipment to locate and remove the fox, which was later humanely euthanised.

Phillip Island was declared fox-free in 2017 after 25 years of extensive eradication programs by Phillip Island Nature Parks and local conservation efforts.

Foxes and feral cats collectively kill 2.6 billion native animals and birds in Australia each year.

Phillip Island’s conservation dogs and their handlers walk up to 50 km each week, searching priority sites for signs of predators. This targeted monitoring supports the protection of little penguins and threatened species such as Eastern barred bandicoots and fairy terns while complementing other conservation projects across the island, such as habitat restoration and threatened species monitoring.

The Nature Parks General Manager Conservation Stuart Murphy said removing foxes has always been a priority, and conservation dogs has proven to be an integral addition to their toolkit.

“Removing the threat of foxes from Phillip Island (Milawul) is paramount to ensure the protection of our native species. We use a range of measures including a fox control buffer zone on the mainland to reduce the threat of reinvasion, night vision equipment and the ‘Foxcam’ on the Phillip Island bridge to ensure the island remains a safe haven,” he said.

“Remaining fox-free and continuing to reduce the threat of feral cats on the island has allowed us to reintroduce native species, including the Eastern barred bandicoot and bush stone-curlew, as part of our threatened species program.”

“But we couldn’t do it without the assistance of our funding partners, and of course our highly skilled conservation dogs.”

The Penguin Foundation has been an integral supporter of the conservation dog program, this week launching an end of year fundraising campaign to raise $40,000 to support the further expansion of the program.”

“Supporting the expansion of the conservation dog program on Phillip Island, Milawul helps secure the future of one of our most treasured and iconic native species, the little penguin, which is in decline in other areas across Australia due to predation by feral animals. The program also supports our rewilding programs, creating a safe-haven on the island for threatened species such as the bush stone-curlew and the Eastern barred bandicoot to be reintroduced into a fox-free environment that gives them the very best opportunity for them to thrive,” said Penguin Foundation Executive Officer, Rebecca Passlow.

“We’re calling upon our supporters and friends to support the program by joining our nose to ground mission to save wildlife by making a donation to the Penguin Foundation.”

Every dollar counts with all donations gratefully accepted. A gift of $60 will fund protective gear to keep the dogs safe while tracking predators, while $500 will expand feral cat detection patrols providing safer nesting grounds for hooded plovers, fairy terns and other vulnerable species.

Your donation will help these highly trained dogs sniff out danger before it strikes, ensuring little penguins, seabirds, and threatened species continue to thrive. Help us power their noses, protect our wildlife, and secure a safer future for wildlife on Phillip Island (Milawul).

Donations can be made at: www.penguinfoundation.org.au/appeal