People walking their dogs at Dunedin's Aramoana Beach must put them on leads because of an unusual yellow-eyed penguin nesting location.
Department of Conservation Coastal Otago conservation services manager David Agnew said the decision to require dogs be put on leads was made because dogs presented the greatest risk to the penguins' survival.
The nesting site was in an area that was popular with people walking their dogs.
''It's the first that I am aware of nesting right there. Usually, it's further north along the beach, past Keyhole rock.''
The chick was doing well and locals were looking out for it.
''Some members of the community found it and they have set-up a group to monitor and keep an eye on it.''
The chick probably hatched a couple of months ago.
When the Otago Daily Times visited the beach yesterday a man was walking along the beach without his dog on a lead.
When challenged by a local, the man said ''my dog's never touched a penguin in its life''.
There are signs on the beach telling people to put their dogs on leads.
