Southern Australia ’s penguin once present a crafty foe : the red fox , which was imported for sport hunting in the 1800s . Over the years , fox mow down the skirt , and penguin colonies along the coast gradually dwindle down . The remaining penguin lived on islands , which finally became approachable to other animate being , thanks to built - up sedimentation and change in the tide .
By the mid-2000s , foxes had made their way onto Middle Island , which lie off Victoria . In one year , they toss off 180 penguins . By 2005 , the island ’s penguin population dropped from 800 to below 10 . However , theNew York Timesreports that the bird found an unbelievable savior in a local chicken farmer .
Known as “ Swampy Marsh , “ the Fannie Merritt Farmer had spent many an hour fight foxes away from his fowl . He eventually trade in his rifle for aMaremma sheepdognamed Ben — a stock that ’s trained to protect farm animal , and is able of guarding territories for days at a time .
When Swampy Marsh bewitch wind of the penguin ’ strife , he partner with the land environmental means to deploy Ben ’s pup , Oddball , against the Fox . That was in 2006 . Since then , Middle Island ’s penguin population has rebounded to 150 , theTimesreports . A successful Australian plastic film calledOddballwas late filmed about the victory , and now Maremma shepherd dog are being used in other regions of Victoria to safeguard extra indigenous species — like a marsupial called the eastern barred bandicoot — from foreign predator like cat-o'-nine-tails , George Fox , and dogs .
Oddball is now pull away , but her legacy lives on . Two other sheepdogs continue to hold Middle Island , and local fundraising attempt have conjure enough money to bribe two new pups . The future depend forebode for the island ’s penguins — and for that matter , its many other native animals .
[ h / tNew York Times ]
