New Zealand Penguins To Go Extinct

An iconic species of penguin could be extinct on the New Zealand mainland in less than 40 years unless urgent action is taken, researchers say.

A peer reviewed study from the University of Otago has found the Yellow-eyed penguin population on the mainland is dropping dramatically.

'Between 1996 and 2013 we lost more than 75% of our population, and that trend seems to continue,' Thomas Mattern, a researcher at the university said.

'If it does so we might lose the penguins completely within the last 20-40 years.'

The study found human activity from fishing, polluted rivers, and dog walking all contributed to the declining population.

'Adult penguins die in fishing nets... bottom trawling and ouster dredging destroys their habitat, their sea-floor habitat, where the penguins find their food, which limits their foraging ranges. Then we've got an increasing problem with pollution, not only through sewage discharge, but also what comes into our oceans from our rivers.

'Then we have human disturbance on land: people walking their dogs on penguin beaches, which doesn't necessarily kill the birds, the birds stay away - which is a problem for the chicks because they don't get enough food in time'

Climate change is 'increasing the pressure' on the penguins, but rising sea temperatures alone wouldn't be too much of an issue because the penguins would likely be able to adapt,' Thomas Mattern said.

Researchers want a concerted effort to arrest the decline in the penguin population.

'We really need to get our act together and sit down with everyone involved - the fishing industry, the policy makers, the scientists and the conservation agents and find solutions and fast.'

The Department of Conservation says it welcomes the report, 'which will help guide our work on hMiho (Yellow-Eyed Penguins).'

'The Department agrees that fisheries interactions, disease outbreaks, marine and terrestrial predation and other human impacts are all potentially as significant as the impact of changes in sea surface temperature on population trends in hMiho,' a spokesperson said.

A spokesperson said the department is engaging with the local Maori community, Ngai Tahu, to manage the yellow-eyed penguins.

'DOC carries out monitoring, research, and intensive management for yellow-eyed penguins alongside Treaty Partner Ngi Tahu, key programme partner the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, community groups and university researchers.'

She said the department is working to implement a plan to look after the penguins on the Otago peninsula.