Fury as cherished penguins die in nets

OUTRAGED bird lovers and environmental groups have called for authorities to throw the book at commercial shark fishermen following the deaths of 23 fairy penguins in Port Phillip Bay yesterday.

In what has been described as the worst act of environmental vandalism since rogue fishermen shot dozens of seals off Wilsons Promontory last August, the penguins drowned in fishing nets set about 15 kilometres north-east of Queenscliff.

Hunt for Melbourne penguin killers continues

Wildlife authorities say they are appalled by the senseless slaughter of three penguins from a Melbourne beach colony.

The stabbed and battered remains of two male and one female bird were discovered at the St Kilda breakwater Little Penguin colony in the days leading up to Christmas.

Autopsy results showed they all died of trauma consistent with a single heavy blow.

One of the male penguins also had its left flipper slashed with a knife.

Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) wildlife officer Samantha Moore said one of the penguins was hit so hard its back was broken.

"This was an appalling act of cruelty upon these flightless birds who had no means of escape," she said.

Ms Moore said police were testing a knife found near the scene for fingerprints and it could be examined for DNA.

She appealed for anyone fishing or walking near the St Kilda breakwater area around December 21 who noticed someone acting suspiciously, to come forward.

Hunt for thugs

Police patrolled Sydney's endangered penguins last night, searching for clues to the thugs who destroyed eggs and damaged nesting boxes.
Manly residents also rallied around the endangered community living beside their homes – and in some cases wandering around their backyards – vowing to fight for the penguins' survival at any cost.

"If I ever found someone down there harassing them, I would kill them, that's how passionate we are about them," Garry, who lives next to the colony, told The Daily Telegraph yesterday.