I recently had the pleasure of meeting Penguin Place – conservation reserve Manager Jason van Zanten, who is knowledgeable, passionate, and dedicated to yellow-eyed penguin/hoiho conservation; and not just because hoiho are “noise shouters”, and their striking yellow eyes and headband command your attention, but because like Howard McGrouther had in 1985, Jason recognises how special these endangered species are.
SEA SOCIETY volunteers Ella and Kate and I went on an afternoon tour and were treated to tour guide Adrian’s engaging and informative commentary, and viewings of hoiho, a female Fiordland crested penguin/tawaki, a little blue penguin/kororā, New Zealand fur seals/kekeno and a male New Zealand sea lion/pakake.
Q. How long have you been the manager of Penguin Place?
A. Four years as manager. I’ve worked here for five.
Q. What kind of degree did you have to gain to work at Penguin Place?
A. I have a psychology degree, so naturally I work with penguins. A lot of the staff here have degrees in zoology and ecology, things like that. I just got lucky I suppose.
Photo: Ella Kerr.