Australian dog that saved penguins dies

An Australian dog that gained international fame for saving a colony of penguins has died at age 15, the media reported.

Oddball, the fluffy Maremma, died from natural causes after a 10-year career in which he saved the penguins on Middle Island, 150 metres offshore off Warnambool in Victoria's south-west, from extinction, Xinhua news agency reported.

The penguin population had been cut to fewer than 10 penguins by wild foxes in 2005.

The dwindling population led Alan Marsh, a chicken farmer, to suggest that a Maremma should be employed to protect the penguins after he had success using the Italian sheep dog to protect his chicks.

After the success of Oddball, two dogs - Eudy and Tula - now spend five days a week on the island during breeding season.

The penguin population was estimated to be at 130 in 2015.

Kylie Gaston, the mayor of Warnambool, said she believed a statue of Oddball, who was the subject of a 2015 feature film, would be a fitting tribute to the dog.

"We are indebted to Oddball. I think we need to acknowledge her for the work she did in turning our penguin population around.

"Our thoughts are with Swampy Marsh as well. Oddball was his loyal dog for many years."

Two dogs, Eudy and Tula, now spend five days a week on the island during breeding season.

The world-first project was so successful it attracted interest from as far as Italy and led to Shane Jacobson portraying Marsh in the 2015 family film Oddball. "Old Oddball has gone to the big chook run in the sky and will rest in peace!" the Middle Island maremma project posted to Facebook on Wednesday. The penguin population was estimated to be 130 in 2015.