The yellow-eyed penguin is a threatened species native to New Zealand. It is grey and black with yellow eyes and lives between 22 years. They live in pairs and lay two eggs, taking turns incubating the eggs. Their population is currently estimated between 6,000-7,000 individuals living on sub-Antarctic islands. Their habitat and numbers have declined due to introduced predators like cats and changes to land use. Conservation efforts aim to protect the species and involve studying penguin populations to monitor their health and survival.
2. The yellow eyed
penguin is grey and
black, with a white
chest and belly. They
have yellow eyes and
eye band. They live on
average for 22 years.
They live in pairs and
lay 2 white eggs
together. An adult is
between 65 – 68 cm
and has a weight
between 5 – 8 kg.
3. In New Zealand there
are currently 6000 –
7000 yellow eyed
penguins living on
Stewart island and
Sub-Antarctic islands.
4. COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME
The yellow eyed penguin Megadyptes antipodes
got it’s name because of
the yellow streak by it’s
eyes.
The name hoiho from the
Maori, in English it means
noisy.
5. DIET
The yellow eyed penguin
eats
Red Cod
Opal Fish
Sprat
Silversides
Ahuru
Blue Cod
6. The yellow-eyed penguin lived in the forest
where it had no natural enemies. When
people arrived they brought Animals like
Rats, Cats, and sheep. The home to the
yellow-eyed penguin was burnt down or cut
to clear the land for farming cattle and sheep.
decrease in numbers of yellow-eyed penguins
7. Predators such as
stoats, ferrets,
weasels and feral cats
are one of the worst
threats to the yellow-
eyed penguin
populations.
8. The yellow-eyed
penguins lay two eggs
which are incubated by
both parents – but, not
at the same time! One
penguin looks for food
in the sea while the
other penguin sits on
the eggs.
Females breed in the
2nd or 3rd years of age.
Males breed in the 5th or
6th years of age.
10. The yellow eyed
penguin is endanged
because animals are
eating them and
their environment
has changed, for
example the
introduction of cats,
dogs and other
animal's, and houses
being built
destroying the
penguins nests.
11. On the D.O.C website I saw:
D.O.C started 1987.
Wildlife act 1981.
Conservation act 1987.
National act 1980.
12. DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION YELLOW EYED PENGUIN
D.O.C TURST
They are a NZ govment A team that goes to
organisation that is trying Stewart island to study the
to keep NZ’s extremely penguins, by tagging them,
endangered species'. studying their size, if they
can go to sea, feather
samples, measuring their
wings and beaks, beaks
size shows so they can
defend themselves
