Killer sea slugs empty New Zealand beaches

New Zealand's normally teeming North Island beaches have been emptied after a spate of mystery poisonings left five dogs dead and the bodies of hundreds of fish, dolphins and penguins littering the coastline.

At least two dogs in Auckland, NZ's largest city have been found to have been killed by tetrodotoxin, a poison found in the deadly pufferfish and at least a dozen others have become seriously ill.

More than 1000 fish,penguins and seabirds also washed up dead on beaches around Auckland at the same time dog owners began reporting their pets' illness.



Tetrodotoxin is potentially lethal to humans; ingesting only a small amount can cause paralysis and death within an hour. The substance has killed many a would-be Japanese gourmet who has eaten under-cooked fugu pufferfish, a delicacy in Japan.

The findings have caused widespread alarm, with normally beach-loving Kiwis abandoning the seaside as public health officials warned parents to keep children and animals off the sand.

"This substance is extremely toxic and potentially fatal to humans and animals," said a spokeswoman for Auckland Regional Public Health.