How a French fungus could save Victoria’s penguins

A weed is threatening the survival of penguins in Victoria, but a French fungus could be the key to saving them.

Sea spurge, a Mediterranean plant, has become a big problem for little penguins to reach their nests.

Parks Victoria Program Leader for Marine and Coasts, Mark Rodrigue, says it “essentially changes the habitat, it blocks their pathways, it fills up the sand with roots and things”.

“This particular plant is particularly nasty because the seed it produces floats in the water,” he told Ross and Russel.

A fungus will today be released in a Victorian trial to combat the problematic weed.

“We’re doing a trial today for releasing a fungus, a bio-controlled fungus, it’s been tested thoroughly by the CSIRO … that will hopefully reduce the ability of this particular plant, the sea spurge, to be able to produce seed and therefore spread,” Mr Rodrigue said.

Press PLAY below to hear more about how the fungus could help