More than 15 blue penguins have been killed on the South Island's West Coast in a dog attack that is likely to have wiped out an entire colony.
The West Coast Blue Penguin Trust says a vet has confirmed the birds at Cape Foulwind were killed by a dog, but could not establish how many dogs were responsible.
The Trust's West Coast ranger, Reuben Lane, says he was called out to the colony when the first penguin was found dead on Friday.
He says the trust has fo far counted 15 dead penguins and expects there will be more.
