Hoiho/yellow-eyed penguins could become extinct on New Zealand’s mainland within two decades as the number of known nests drops by 80% in 15 years, according to the Department of Conservation (DOC).
One of the rarest penguins in the world, seasonal nest counts found that just 143 known hoiho nests exist on mainland New Zealand, including Stewart Island/Rakiura. This is down around 80% since 2008/2009, when 739 nests were counted.
DOC said that without a “serious turnaround”, the hoiho could become “locally extinct” within 20 years.
“Nest numbers are only part of the picture, the higher concern is there are currently less than 100 yellow-eyed penguin chicks on Stewart Island and mainland New Zealand, and of these there is no guarantee of their long-term survival,” the press release read.
Hoiho also have a low reproductive rate and low juvenile survival — less than 20% of fledging chicks are expected to survive to adulthood.
Declining numbers were due to multiple threats, including disease, introduced predators, human disturbance, a significant shift in adult diet, fisheries bycatch, and marine predation, DOC said.
“Work to save this taonga species includes predator control, monitoring nests, disease and injury treatment, starvation interventions and planting of native vegetation to restore hoiho habitat,” said Southern South Island director of operations Aaron Fleming.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu hoiho recovery representative Puawai Swindells-Wallace said he has seen the “extremely challenging” work conservation rangers and volunteers are undertaking to try and save the species.
“Hoiho are a taonga species for Ngāi Tahu and it is unthinkable that we could lose them – we don’t really know what impact that could have on the whole ecosystem.
“We need to collectively increase our capacity to support the hoiho to regain their rightful place on our beaches and in our moana.”
Recently appointed Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust chairperson Anna Campbell said that nest and chick numbers were “critically low” on the mainland.
“Now is the time to come together, be bold and brave — collaborating can enhance our potential to protect the hoiho.”
