Kaikōura Penguins

Our Penguins

New Zealand has more penguin species than any other country in the world and is regarded as a global penguin capital. Little penguins (threatened Blue penguins and endangered White-flippered penguins) breed in Kaikōura. The region is also a foraging destination for larger penguin species. Yellow-eyed penguins, Fiordland crested penguins, Snares crested penguins, Erect crested penguins and Rockhopper penguins are encountered in Kaikōura. Each year many require rescue in relation to human related impacts. 

Moulting Penguins

Penguins undergo a catastrophic moult every year, replacing all of their plumage over the course of a few weeks. Penguins must stay ashore continuously for a three week period to replace feathers during the annual moult. 

In Kaikōura moulting penguins are typically reported from February-March. In recent years, penguins have initiated their moult later (a result of decreased food sources), with moulting penguins being reported into April. If you encounter a penguin in an unusual area, looking scruffy during this time of year, it is likely undergoing the moult.

Penguins need to shed all of their feathers simultaneously to grow new ones. During the moult penguins are not waterproof and poorly insulated. During this period they are unable to forage at sea and lose up to half of their body weight. Moulting is physically taxing for penguins, many of which have already been in poor body condition during the breeding season, in relation to climate change impacts (decreased prey availability).

When underweight penguins initiate the moult, they risk starvation to moult completion. Any reported moulting penguins that are found in poor body condition require transfer into care to facilitate nutritional support with supplementary feeding. This ensures that upon return to the wild, penguins have the physical strength to forage successfully and prepare for the next breeding season, enabling the best possible chance of survival in challenging times.

Penguin Habitat

Kaikōura’s remnant Little Penguin/Kororā colony is collapsing and urgently requires increased protection. Individual breeding pairs also breed under man-made structures at sites around the Kaikōura Peninsula. Dog predation and human disturbance pose the greatest risks to penguins on land.

Moulting penguins may seek refuge in coastal shrubs, under houses, in backyard vegetation and woodpiles, under structures around wharves, rocky peninsula outcrops, amidst stop bank boulders, and in vegetated dunes.

Dog Control

Penguins are vulnerable to dog attacks, particularly during the annual moult. Dog attacks pose the greatest risks to penguin survival on land, with roaming dogs and irresponsible dog ownership resulting in avoidable penguin injury and mortality. Dogs detect penguin scent easily, and it only takes one bite to maim or kill a penguin. Dogs should be kept under control on leads at all times in coastal areas. 

In Kaikōura the Dog Control Bylaw (2015) prohibits dogs in various areas including: Point Kean, Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway, Jimmy Armers Beach, South Bay Domain and South Bay Boat Park.

Penguin Rescue & Rehab

Injured and ill penguins require emergency care for dog attacks, predation attempts, poor body condition from starvation (climate change and overfishing impacts), heat stress, boat strike, marine entanglements, and moult related issues. Critically endangered species such as the Yellow-eyed penguin are susceptible to infectious disease (e.g. respiratory distress syndrome) and parasitic diseases (e.g. avian malaria). Annually penguins are one of the primary patients admitted in care, with the majority in critical condition and requiring immediate life-saving treatment.

How To Help

  • Please report unwell penguins that appear weak, ill or injured.

    Our wildlife rehabilitator at Project WellBird will facilitate handover for assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.

    Alternatively, Department of Conservation (DOC) rangers can assist with transferring unwell penguins into care.

  • Please report a moulting penguin if unsafe in a high use area, where there is risk of human disturbance or dog attack. DOC rangers may translocate the penguin to a more suitable site, or transfer into temporary care with our wildlife rehabilitator.

  • Please call Project WellBird on 021 585 586 to report unwell or moulting penguins.

    Alternatively, please contact DOC rangers at the Kaikōura Field Base via the Renwick DOC Office by phoning 03 572 9100, or the DOC Hotline on 0800 362 468.

    You will be asked about the penguin’s situation and informed what to do. Handover to VetCare Kaikoura (business hours) is an alternative option if unable to reach the above contacts.

Protecting Penguins  

The Trust is coordinating efforts to urgently protect little penguin/kororā in Kaikōura. With only few kororā remaining in the district, it is critical that known threats are mitigated and safe breeding habitat is provided. Given high mortality rates in relation to decreased ocean productivity (e.g. climate change and overfishing), plus secondary threats (e.g. dog attacks on beach cast penguins), rehabilitating starving or injured penguins is simply not enough, and represents a stretcher at the bottom of the cliff. This work is focused on community guardianship.

Conservation Efforts

The Trust is serving as a facilitator to enable penguin conservation efforts. Habitat restoration involves collaborating with DOC, Kaikōura District Council, penguin conservation groups, scientists and volunteers. To date over 60 penguin nest boxes have been built, with 40 new boxes installed. Alongside providing nesting material, creating new penguin safe zones, upgrading delapidated built-in nest boxes, adding more traps, placing signage, and initiating native planting. The next stage is focused on implementing additional penguin areas.