Penguin problems
Wild weather and variable sea currents can cruelly conspire to reduce the availability of the penguins’ natural food. The starvation resulting from these food shortages is often a more important cause of death at sea, than the predation they suffer in the jaws of sharks. Other at sea threats include those posed by oil spills and entanglement in fishing gear and six-pack yokes. On mainland New Zealand, including the West Coast, the most significant threat seems to be where penguins have to cross coastal roads at night to reach their burrows. Many are killed by traffic. Introduced mammalian predators including dogs, cats and possibly stoats also appear to be a threat. As well as threats from pollution, human activity directly affects penguin colonies when people carelessly walk through the colony disturbing burrows, or worse, drive through in 4WD vehicles or on motorbikes. Loss of habitat through weed invasion, erosion, grazing and housing development has also had an adverse impact on the distribution and abundance of penguin colonies but those on off-shore islands are affected much less by all the land-based threats.

About the Blue Penguin Trust
The West Coast Blue Penguin Trust was established in 2006. It’s aim is to conserve the South Island West Coast Blue Penguins and their habitat. The trust raises funds for further research on the penguins and works with the community to raise awareness by education and advocacy. Blue Penguins are a near threatened species in slow decline and need our protection from coastal development, predators, traps and road kill.

Supporting the Blue Penguin Trust
For further information and donations please contact the Trust at RD1 Runanga, West Coast, New Zealand.