LITTLE PENGUIN TOOLKIT

A new citizen science-based toolkit was recently launched by Minister for Primary Industries and Water the Hon. Guy Barnett and Cradle Coast Authority CEO, Daryl Connelly.

Funded by the Tasmanian Government and developed by CCA’s Natural Resource Management (NRM) team, the toolkit will help land managers and community groups monitor Tasmania’s Little Penguin populations and manage threats to their colonies. The toolkit provides guidance on survey methods that community groups can use to monitor changes to penguin populations in their local area. It also provides methods to assess the Little Penguin habitat potential of an area, as well as ways to effectively assess current and future threats to colonies. Data collected using these methods can be provided to the Tasmanian Government through a dedicated email address to improve knowledge of Little Penguin populations and distribution around the state.

CCA would like to thank the many community groups, other organisations and volunteers who made this project a success, as well as the Tasmanian Government for their financial and other support.

The toolkit, which is endorsed by the Tasmanian Penguin Advisory Group and has been reviewed by DPIPWE wildlife experts, is available at www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/toolkit

Photo (L-R): Daryl Connelly, CEO CCA, Dr Perviz Marker, Tasmanian Penguin Advisory Group and CCA NRM Committee member, Felix Ellis, MP, Anna Wind, Environment Project Coordinator, CCA: Robbie Walsh, Mayor, Waratah Wynyard Council and the Hon. Guy Barnett, MP.