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Save the blue penguins

By Larissa Jamieson

Why are the blue penguins numbers dropping?

These are some reasons why the blue penguin numbers are dropping. Humans are killing many blue penguins by leaking oil in oceans were blue penguins are living. Blue penguins are preyed upon by New Zealand fur seals. One of the greatest threats to blue penguins is predators there predators are cats, foxes, large reptiles, ferrets and stoats. In areas were blue penguins cross the road at night to reach there burrows, traffic is a major problem in the last five years over 100penguins have been killed by vehicles on west coast roads penguins are particularly vulnerable on state high way between Punakaiki and fox river were the road is very close to the beach. Some years around Christmas large numbers are washed ashore but the reason is unknown.

How does this effect other plants and animals in it’s ecosystem?

It effects New Zealand fur seals, albatross, and walrus. Small fish, squid and octopus populations will grow to big and eventually some other source will die out. While the climate is changing penguins are trying there best to stay alive. New Zealand is home to blue penguins and we need to increase there numbers instead of decreasing them to extinction.

What is a blue penguin?

The smallest penguin is the blue penguin. It is 16 inches tall (35 to 43 cm)Blue penguins live in NZ and aAstralia. In NZ they live mostly in between Punakaiki and fox river. They breed on the rocky coast and islands throughout NZ Blue penguins nests can be several hundred metres inland. When they breed they come ashore at dusk and depart at dawn. They moult in burrows, and under rock piles or in damp vegetation often surrounded by moulted feathers.

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