Doc ranger Simon Alefosio-Tuck and Otago Polytechnic bachelor of information technology students Sam Stuart and Aaron McGrouther hope the new app will help dog owners visiting beaches like Smails. Photo by Gregor Richardson.

One of the greatest dangers to the sea lions and penguins on Otago's beaches is uncontrolled dogs, Department of Conservation ranger Simon Alefosio-Tuck said.

It was hoped the app would help educate and warn dog owners about wildlife on the region's beaches.

Student Sam Stewart said the app was aimed at dog owners and would help them identify beaches nearby and whether or not they could take their dogs there and what wildlife was in the area.

They hoped to include the ability for the app to use GPS to locate the dog owner and link them to Doc so they could report sightings of wildlife or wayward dogs.

Then dog owners looking up a location could see where wildlife was and make the decision to go to another beach instead.

The app had passed the proof of concept stage so next year the students, including Aaron McGrouther, Lauren Parker and Rickie Kewene, would develop it.

Mr Alefosio-Tuck said the big thing Doc hoped to get out of the process was being able to warn dog owners of no-go beaches, as often wildlife turned up on beaches where dogs were allowed.

''So they get a text via the app that there is a sea lion at Tomahawk Beach so they decide to go to Smails instead.''

Dunedin City Council dog control, Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust and Sea Lion Trust had been consulted on information to go on the app, he said.

The rest is here:

App intended to save wildlife from dogs