Dead penguin found at Safety Bay beach

Friday, 1 September 2017 10:01

By Kathy Koutzas

A woman walking on the beach at Safety Bay this morning has found a dead penguin as well as dozens of dead pigeons.

UPDATE 4:30pm

City of Rockingham and Parks and Wildlife Service officers have located a deceased Little Penguin on Safety Bay Beach, which was reported to the City this morning.

The animal has been collected by officers and will now be sent to Perth Zoo for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

The results will be available in a few weeks.

City of Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels was at Safety Bay Beach on Friday afternoon and said the council is working together with the Parks and Wildlife Service to determine the Little Penguin’s cause of death.

“People who notice sick, injured or dead birds, fish or native animals should contact the City’s Customer Service Team on 9528 09333 and the DBCA Parks and Wildlife Service WildCare Helpline on: 9474 9055.

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Lynett Taiwhati has told Community News she was shocked to find dead birds and fish scattered across the beach this morning.

“I saw one penguin and easily 20 pigeons.

“I only walked a short distance as there was just too many dead birds, I looked up the beach towards Warnbro and all I could see were dead birds.”

A Department of Parks and Wildlfe spokeswoman has told Community News the department would not be investigating because they were an introduced species.

The City of Rockingham said Environmental Health Officers are searching the beach for any evidence and are trying to locate the deceased penguin.