Meeting on efforts to save hoiho

The efforts of the Penguin Rescue sanctuary at Katiki Point in Moeraki to save the endangered yellow-eyed penguin (hoiho) from extinction are ongoing and crucial. Last month, the Department of Conservation and Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu warned that the hoiho could disappear from the mainland within two decades.

Rosalie Goldsworthy, manager of Penguin Rescue, emphasized the urgent need for increased support to prevent the extinction of this iconic species. She highlighted that it is a conscious choice by New Zealanders to let go of the hoiho if adequate resources are not allocated to their conservation.

Recent rescue missions by Penguin Rescue members near Palmerston aimed to assist stranded penguins and bolster the hoiho’s survival chances. Various threats, including disease, predators, human interference, dietary changes, bycatch in fisheries, and marine predators, contribute to the decline in mainland hoiho numbers.

Concerns are rising as the number of yellow-eyed penguin chicks dwindles, with less than 100 remaining on Stewart Island and the mainland, posing a risk to their long-term survival. The sanctuary in Moeraki plays a vital role in protecting the hoiho population, with over a third of surviving chicks located in the area.

Collaborating with the Waitaki District Council and other conservation groups, efforts are underway to raise awareness about the plight of yellow-eyed penguins along the North Otago coast. Strategies such as predator control, nest monitoring, habitat restoration, and disease management are being discussed to support the critically endangered species.

A meeting in Hampden next month will gather stakeholders to devise conservation plans, including surveillance for avian influenza, a significant threat to the hoiho’s survival. The Otago Regional Council will receive updated information to guide conservation efforts.

Despite challenges, the hoiho at the Moeraki sanctuary have shown signs of resilience, with improved feeding conditions benefiting the chicks. The sanctuary’s intensive care and quick response times have contributed to the survival of the hoiho population.

Interested individuals are encouraged to attend the upcoming meeting at the Hampden Community Hall on February 11 to contribute to the conservation of the yellow-eyed penguin.