COROMIND ISSUE 18 JUN24 ONLINEVERSION - Flipbook - Page 23
How can we help our little blue penguins
survive in this changing world?
Kororā numbers are in national decline
so without active human intervention,
including monitoring, advocacy, predator
control, dog restrictions, habitat restoration
(planting and making wooden penguin
burrows) and good environmental planning,
kororā would be on a certain path to
extinction just like the mainland population
of hoiho (yellow-eyed penguin) which are
predicted to become extinct from the South
Island within the next 15 years. We also need
to be aware that climate change is adding
more pressure on their food sources as their
prey move further out to sea towards cooler
waters as the temperature rises.
With sleek blue feathers, a small yet solid
stature and cute pink feet, the kororā (blue
penguin) is a beloved part of our coastal
wildlife and landscapes. Being the only
penguin species naturally found around the
North Island coastline, kororā are a taonga
(treasure) to many coastal communities,
including the likes of Kūaotunu.
While they may be incredibly cute and
tempting to cuddle, it is illegal under the
current Wildlife Act to approach and handle
a penguin. Not only can a person be 昀椀ned
for handling a wild penguin without DOC
authorisation, but the penguin may also
have a disease that could transfer to the
handler and vice versa. Kororā also have
a pretty nasty bite, thanks to their hooked
beak which helps them catch their fastmoving prey out in the ocean. A healthy adult kororā can travel
up to 25 km from the shore in search of food during the day –
that’s some champion swimming for such a small creature!
If a penguin is found to be in a dangerous situation such as being
surrounded by o昀昀-lead dogs or on a busy road, the best thing to
do is to call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) – the Department
of Conservation response line. From there, a ranger can provide
advice and authorisation for certain response actions to help keep
the penguin and people as safe as possible. If a penguin is found
safe and healthy, it’s always best to keep at least a 20 m distance
from the animal, including putting dogs on leads and keeping
them well away (same rule for seals). Sometimes penguins just
need a little rest on shore before heading back out for a feed or
they might be on their way to their burrow. Blocking the path to
their burrow could lead to them abandoning their home for a new
site – possibly leaving a chick or eggs vulnerable to predation.
Unfortunately, during breeding season, one adult death could
cause two chick deaths (they generally lay a clutch of two eggs)
which equals three penguin deaths! This is sadly part of the
formula causing the rapid decline in kororā numbers.
Some community groups have DOC permits and are trained
to scienti昀椀cally monitor their local kororā populations. Local
populations often live in small colonies dotted around the
coast. Colonies are often found within ports, rocks walls, on
coastal farmland or in coastal bush areas. While they love a
natural burrow, there is a “housing shortage” for many penguins
(displaced colonies) as coastal development and erosion destroys
their sheltered habitats, badly planned rock wall maintenance
kills burrowing penguins and uncontrolled predators such as
rats, stoats, hedgehogs, cats and dogs make their habitats unsafe.
Hope is all but lost for kororā. While we
barely ever see them during the day because
they come ashore at night to rest and feed
their young, you CAN help! Here are some ideas:
•
Trap pests along or near the dunes
•
Participate in your local Coastcare group with weeding and
planting of native trees and plants
•
Keep dogs on leads or away from coastal vegetation
•
Keep dogs o昀昀 beaches at night
•
Keep cats indoors at night (I’ll write another article on cats
sometime)
•
Pick up beach litter
•
Build a wooden penguin burrow and place it in a sheltered
coastal spot
•
Contact DOC (0800 362 468) if you 昀椀nd a dead or injured
penguin or other marine wildlife
•
Continue learning and talking about kororā / blue penguins
with friends and family
By Elvisa van der Leden
Forest and Bird Waikato Regional Conservation Manager
& Penguin Citizen Scientist
e.vanderleden@forestandbird.org.nz
“You can’t care about what you don’t know about”
Words by
Elvisa van der Leden
Coromind | 22