The Little Sign with the BIG Message!

To help ensure the safety of penguins nesting and roosting in the DOC Scenic Reserve between Kaiteriteri Beach and Little Kaiteriteri, it is now a DOC requirement that dogs are on a leash.

Dogs are very curious and can pick up a penguin scent from up to 20 metres away. Having dogs under control on a leash ensures that their curiosity doesn't result in a disastrous outcome for a little blue or any other ground-dwelling wildlife. Even a disturbance around a burrow site can result in the eggs or chicks being abandoned and another generation lost.

The DOC conservation status for little penguins is at risk/declining, making these preventative measures an important part of ensuring their safety.

Dogs on a leash please.