You can help penguins
King penguin
Community efforts
Penguin conservation on Banks Peninsula is a true community effort in every sense of the word.
Mark and Sonia Armstrong have been setting traps for predators amongst the penguin colony on their Stony Bay property since 1988. Shireen and Francis Helps in Flea Bay have been trapping since 1991. Both families had noticed a decline in penguin numbers and were prompted to take action.
Two colonies of white-flippered penguin at the headlands of Le Bons Bay, Banks Peninsula, are being cared for by students and parents of the local school. Teacher Gary Brittenden as a role model, and the help of local DOC rangers, the children set up a trap line on-top of the cliffs above the colony, which they check regularly.
Other private landowners with colonies have also been brought on board. DOC and the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust have made joint approaches to landowners who neighbour penguin colonies to become part of the solution and many have jumped at the chance - Richard Bolyn in Okains Bay is one.
How can you help?
Please keep dogs away from penguin colonies and do not disturb nesting sites. Do not leave old fishing line on beaches or throw it into the sea. Report any penguin sightings to the local Department of Conservation office and gain professional advice before disturbing a bird, even if you think it is sick. In many instances, these birds are simply moulting.
You may want to donate your time or money to help non-profit organisations and voluntary groups who work to protect penguins. Groups active in penguin protection include the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust and Forest and Bird. Your local DOC office should be able to put you in contact with these groups.
The Department of Conservation welcomes any comments or suggestions you may have about the conservation of New Zealand's penguins.
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