Penguin protector Tula

Kamahl Cogdon

Tula, a sheepdog, who protected the penguins of Middle Island—the job made famous by the movieOddball—has died at the age of 13.The sad news came five months after the death of Tula's sister, Eudy, who also protected the little penguin colony on Middle Island,a small island in Australia.

The sisters were the first dogs specially trained to protect the little penguins from foxes as part of the Middle Island Penguin Project.The project was the inspiration for the 2015 filmOddball, starring Shane Jacobson.Oddball, who died in 2017 at the age of 15,was the penguin colony's first protector.She spent just two weeks on the island in 2006,but her stay was so successful that it led to the launch of the permanent protection project.

Tula spent eight years as the lead guardian on Middle Island before retiring in 2019.Middle Island Penguin Project dog handler Dr Trish Corbett said Tula would be greatly missed.“Tula was the lead guardian.She was always the first to jump up and bark if there was a threat,”Dr Corbett said.Tula remained active in retirement and, with her sister,played an important role in training the next generation of guardian dogs.

The Middle Island Penguin Project began in 2006 after fox hunting resulted in a great decline in the island's penguin population.Local chicken farmer Swampy Marsh suggested sheepdogs could be used to protect the penguins after he had successfully used them to guard his chickens.The Middle Island Penguin Project has operated ever since.

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Which island's penguins did Tula protect?