Eudyptula minor                Carnivore           Diurnal          Status: Least concern

Five subspecies of little blue penguin are found around the coastlines of New Zealand, the Chatham Islands and Southern Australia. Also known as the little penguin or fairy penguin, it is the smallest penguin in the world, growing to an average height of 30-33 cm. They come ashore at night in small groups as protection against predators, which include cats, dogs and foxes. Sheepdogs were deployed on Middle Island in Victoria to protect its penguin colony from foxes, who were reaching the island during low tide.

Photo courtesy of Lisa Ridings.