Dunedin Is Out to Save New Zealand's Yellow-Eyed Penguins

New Zealand’s yellow-eyed penguins, or hoiho “little shouter” as they’re known in Māori, are quickly becoming an endangered species. With only 3,200 to 3,600 yellow-eyed penguins left in the wild from nearly 7,000 18 years ago, wildlife advocates of the Otago peninsula and the larger Dunedin area are out to save the species from possible extinction. 

Passionate students from the University of Otago are currently trying to shed a light on the hoiho’s dark plight. PhD student Mel Young, also a tour guide from local Dunedin tours company Back to Nature Tours, accompanied by her helpers are studying these penguins to better understand their habits while on the move at sea.

Mel’s work includes attaching nonintrusive tracking devices to these unique creatures, collecting the trackers, and then analysing the collected data to help ensure the penguins can continue to breed in the Eastern Otago Coast for many years to come.

Many other organisations in Dunedin are also helping to protect their unique wildlife. The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust provides and maintains reserves in various locations, while the private Penguin Place conservation reserve, a tourism-funded wildlife refuge and treatment rehabilitation unit in Harington Point, is open to visitors and tourists who want to see the penguins without having to disturb them in the wild.

Lastly, the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital opened in February of this year and has reportedly already treated 4 yellow-eyed penguins. The specialists aim to treat penguins who have suffered from predatory attacks to help ensure their survival.

Back to Nature Tours’ Chris Roberts says these penguins “need all the assistance they can get if they are to survive in this world.”  

If we all do our bit by doing simple things like not littering our beaches (or anywhere actually), keeping our pets under control and basically respecting our land, ocean, flora and fauna in general then along with important studies being carried out by dedicated people like Mel, and some luck, then maybe the precious Yellow Eyed Penguin will make the journey into the future.”

Back to Nature Tours not only provides Dunedin wildlife tours and visits to various Dunedin attractions. They also partner with other ecotourism operators and government agencies to help build conservation efforts that preserve the Dunedin area’s diverse environment and wildlife.

For more information on wildlife tours and conservation, visit the Back to Nature Tours website today!