Your Dog and Low Head's Penguins: What Every George Town Pet Owner Needs to Know This Winter

Why Winter Is No Longer the Safe Season

Penguin breeding at Low Head no longer follows a predictable summer pattern. Due to warming ocean temperatures, the colony now breeds across autumn and winter, meaning birds are onshore and in burrows from April through September.

Between 2017 and 2019, dog attacks killed more than 100 penguins at Low Head alone. The colony, estimated at around 250 breeding pairs, could take 15 or more years to fully recover from large-scale attack events.

The Law Has Changed: What Dog Owners Must Know

Under the amended Dog Control Act 2000:

• Little penguins are declared sensitive wildlife statewide
• Low Head is declared a sensitive area
• Fines of up to $5,040 apply if your dog attacks a penguin
• Taking a dog into a prohibited area near penguin habitat carries a separate penalty of $3,360
• Dogs must be kept on a lead in all designated coastal areas around the headland

George Town Council and Parks and Wildlife Service conduct patrols and operate CCTV cameras at the colony. Infringement notices are issued.

What You Need to Do

• Keep your dog on a lead at all times near the Low Head foreshore and headland
• Check for signage before walking in coastal areas around George Town and Low Head
• Ensure your dog cannot roam at night. Penguins come ashore after dark and are most vulnerable then
• If you witness a dog attack on wildlife, contact Parks and Wildlife on 1300 827 727

‍