# Dingoes, fairy penguins and other maligned creatues of my home **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 25, 2000, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460 "2000-09-25T14:44:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2000, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/1 "2000-09-25T14:44:51Z")
I was looking for something else and came across what is evidently this week’s column in a search: [In Australia, do dingoes really eat babies?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000922.html) Amongst other remarks on the Chamberlain case and the unfriendliness of various things of the wide brown land, Cecil remarks; > [@](#): > > Fairy penguins have been known to maul tourists Surely someone has been having a lend. I know that a man’s head turned up in a cod the other week and that the score at South Australian beaches in the past 24 hours is sharks 2, humans nil, but fairy penguins are 18 inches high. They are cute, and surely harmless. They are the _one_ piece of fauna that none of us has ever made up stories to frighten the tourists about. So, could someone provide me with a link to the alleged maulings? picmr ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2000, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/2 "2000-09-25T14:51:21Z")
Are fairy penguins the same as the dwarf penguins I saw at Phillip Island, Vic.? Ugly little things, no bigger than a football (American, that is). Sorta cute, though, in that penguin-y sort of way. Each night, at dusk, they march up out of the surf to their burrows on the beach. It’s quite a sight, and a popular tourist destination. I had one waddle right between my legs, Bill Buckner-style, not caring a whit that I was standing there, snapping a photo of it. If one were to “maul” a tourist, I can imagine a bit ankle, and that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2000, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/3 "2000-09-25T15:01:51Z")
The very same **Monfort**. I think Cecil’s been had. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2000, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/4 "2000-09-25T15:10:46Z")
Babies ate my dingo! ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2000, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/5 "2000-09-25T18:07:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by picmr \* > \*\*The very same **Monfort**. I think Cecil’s been had. \*\* Whoo! In the span of three days I’ve **begged** Cecil to let me kiss his ass, and then I’ve helped to correct a mistake in his column! BTW, it’s Mon **t** fort. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/6 "2000-09-26T03:16:57Z")
_All_ I could find (it’s not much). I found the following at [Big Ben’s Victoria](http://www.bigbenpublishing.com.au/victoria/animals/penguin.html): > [@](#): > > Although it’s not widely reported for fear of jeopardising tourism, fairy penguins have developed some very antisocial behaviour as a result of continuous close contact with humans. > > Their sensitivity to photographic flashes has long been known. In recent years there have been isolated attacks where an unsuspecting tourist was mauled by half a dozen or more fairy penguins after using a flash gun to photograph them at dusk. > > While they may be flightless, during such attacks they have been seen to jump as far as three metres to pounce on their victim. Beware penguins with attitudes!!! And on [this](http://www.gse.mq.edu.au/Research/mmrg/students.htm) page I found a grad student at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia who describes her studies as such: > [@](#): > > Effects of human activity on the behavioural and hormonal stress response of penguins and seals I’ve emailed her. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/7 "2000-09-26T03:25:54Z")
From the OP: > [@](#): > > They are the _one_ piece of fauna that none of us has ever made up stories to frighten the tourists about. What about koalas? From all I here, they’re naturally socible, have no enemies, and have no purpose in life save eating eucalyptus and snuggling. Is there some darker side to these affectionate fuzzballs? ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/8 "2000-09-26T04:19:32Z")
The koalas you see at wildlife parks are used to humans. You would be _most_ unwise to try and pick one up in the wild. They have very sharp claws and are solid muscle. Thanks for the effort **beatle**. The jumping sounds plausible enough. The mauling I’m still having trouble picturing, but if true it would make sense that you’d keep quiet about it (which is close to the way Cecil put it). picmr ---
**Author:** ![kelly1x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kelly1x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly1x)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/9 "2000-09-26T04:30:22Z")
Interns?!! Cecil has interns? I wanna be an intern. I could bring coffee and provide massages and moral support. And he could practice his stinging witticisms on me. I’d clap every time. Sigh. It would be a dream come true. How does one apply for these positions? ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/10 "2000-09-26T06:44:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kelly1x \* > \*\*Interns?!! Cecil has interns? I wanna be an intern. I could bring coffee and provide massages and moral support. And he could practice his stinging witticisms on me. I’d clap every time. Sigh. It would be a dream come true. How does one apply for these positions? \*\* Well, Ed advertised a position in ATMB earlier this year. I think he filled it, though. ---
**Author:** ![dpr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dpr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dpr)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/11 "2000-09-26T06:53:18Z")
When I read the fairy penguin reference I thought someone was coming the raw prawn too (having a lend). A quick search through our records failed to turn up a fairy penguin mauling. Geez, they’re simply not large or quick enough. Though they haven’t mentioned Dropbears yet picmr… ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/12 "2000-09-26T11:25:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Dear C\_\_\_\_\_ (Beatle), > > Thanks for your email - I must admit that I had a good laugh when I read: > > “Fairy penguins have been known to maul tourists…” > > There are a couple of things worth addressing here… First and foremost, I have NEVER heard of or experienced mauling by fairy penguins. I have been working with these animals for two years and have met a lot of other researchers who have been studying them for much longer. No one has ever mentioned anything about mauling!!! > > Fairy penguins are small wingless creatures who are more afraid of people than we should be of them… sure they have a sharp beak and will nip when handled (in the case of research or when rescued following oil spills) but they are hardly vicious animals! They are just like most other animals and would sooner run away from an approaching human than attack him/her!!! My goodness, what will people think of next?! > > Also…“Fairy penguins have been known to maul tourists…” > > “known” by whom? I’d love to see some references. > > \> “Although it’s not widely reported for fear of jeopardising tourism, fairy > \> penguins have developed some very antisocial behaviour as a result of > \> continuous close contact with humans. > \> Their sensitivity to photographic > \> flashes has long been known. In recent years there have been isolated attacks > \> where an unsuspecting tourist was mauled by half a dozen or more fairy > \> penguins after using a flash gun to photograph them at dusk. While they may > \> be flightless, during such attacks they have been seen to jump as far as > \> three metres to pounce on their victim. Beware penguins with attitudes!!!” > > Fairy penguins are less than 35 cm tall, and have tiny legs and webbed feet. They do have impressive jumping abilities for their size (which they use to climb steep hills to get to their burrows), but 3 m sounds a little too far (to say the least). Their physiology suits short steps, small hops, and particularly swimming/diving. 3m pounces are way out of their league! > > I tried to get on to the web sites that you mentioned to check out the references but had no luck… my server wouldn’t connect for some reason or another. Chances are these tales of fairy penguins viciously attacking “unsuspecting visitors” are just that - ‘fairy tales’ > (excuse the pun) based on anecdotal evidence. I suppose that that is one of the disadvantages of web-based information… legitimate references are not required and there is very little monitoring of what gets out there. > > Let’s hope that not everyone believes what they read! > > Cheers, > Emma > > * * * > > Emma Turner > Graduate School of the Environment > Macquarie University ---
**Author:** ![Cecil\_Adams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cecil\_Adams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecil_Adams)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/13 "2000-09-26T14:58:42Z")
> [@](#): > > First and foremost, I have NEVER heard of or experienced mauling by fairy penguins. Damn Aussies will say anything to avoid scaring off the tourists. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/14 "2000-09-26T16:01:42Z")
I did a web search on “Fairy Penguins” and didn’t find anything either. That’s because that name was created by the Australian Tourist Board public relations people about a year ago. If you want to learn more about this species, you have to search under the Latin name: _Eudyptula Minor_. You’ll find a number of sites there referencing the more historically common name for this breed, the Predaceous Ravagebird. Not a true penguin at all, it has teeth like a barracuda and can strip the meat and organs out of most mammals in no time, starting at the ankles and whittling its way up to the head. The first sight of this small bird is deceiving, giving it the edge in an attack. The Australian PR machine has taken advantage of the fact that pictures of this bird evoke cuddly feelings in most people, so they’re always trying to promote tourism by using “Fairy Penguin” photos and cartoons on visitor brochures. Oh, like they’re gonna show box jellyfish, sea snakes and saltwater crocs instead? Yeah, right. Good thing they got the Olympics… that’s all I can say. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/15 "2000-09-26T16:25:46Z")
**JillGat** - OH, the _Predaceous Ravagebird_…I wondered what had happened to those. Aren’t they closely related to the _Vorpal Rabbit_? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/16 "2000-09-26T16:58:07Z")
Cecil also claimed the dingo has been in Australia for **30,000** years. This is almost certainly wrong. While the first humans reached Australia 45,000 or 50,000 years ago, the dingos arrived much, much later than that. A book I read earlier this year, A Very Elegant Animal: the Dingo, suggests the dingo’s introduction was as recent as **3 or 4 thousand** years ago. [Encyclopedia Britannica](http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/8/0,5716,30998+1+30501,00.html?query=dingo) was a little more generous, but still puts it no earlier than **8,000** years ago. Cecil’s claim for **30,000** years is way off base. I for one am shocked at the general carelessness with which Cecil approached this column. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/17 "2000-09-26T17:29:00Z")
And top o’ the morning to ya’, **Cecil**! **JillGat** - hey! That’s neat; _Predaceous Ravagebird_ appeals to me a little more than _Fairy Penguin_. So, did you find any cites for maulings of tourists? ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/18 "2000-09-26T17:35:21Z")
“The Predaceous Ravagebirds” would make a great name for a rock band. ---
**Author:** ![Cecil\_Adams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cecil\_Adams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecil_Adams)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/19 "2000-09-26T18:56:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Cecil also claimed the dingo has been in Australia for 30,000 years. This is almost certainly wrong. I got this from the 1998 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, which I think came free with the CD-ROM drive. I cheerfully concede that this was not the most exhaustive job of research I ever did. However, I was merely attempting to establish that the dingo had been in the land down under since antiquity. As a matter of fact, I did notice that the EB pegged the dingo’s arrival at 5-8,000 years ago, but I also knew that (a) the EB had fumbled the origin of “drawn and quartered,” and (b) one of the EB’s contributors was Little Ed. (I’m serious.) So in my book the EB’s credibility was pretty much in the toilet. Now, you want to tell me the dingo arrived in Australia last Wednesday afternoon, then I’m worried. Otherwise let’s not sweat the details. ---
**Author:** ![TinCanMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@TinCanMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TinCanMan)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460/20 "2000-09-26T23:06:50Z")
-the fairy penguins [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingoes-fairy-penguins-and-other-maligned-creatues-of-my-home/34460.md?page=2)