Penguin Place – conservation reserve is a private conservation reserve on the beautiful Otago Peninsula that was founded in 1985, to help protect the critically-endangered yellow-eyed penguin/hoiho (Megadyptes antipodes).
In the 1960’s, Percy McGrouther purchased the property to farm sheep with his two sons Howard and Jim. After Percy semi-retired, Howard took over operations and a fascination and understanding of hoiho was sparked. In 1985, he fenced off approximately 150 acres of his land to create a safe breeding environment for eight breeding pairs of hoiho. He set up the bones of the rehabilitation centre and planted native trees on land that had previously been cleared for agriculture.
Penguin Place is 100% tourism funded and is essential for hoiho survival.
With approximately 3,000 mature individuals left in the wild, hoiho are the rarest penguin in the world. They stand only about 65 centimeters and have striking yellow eyes (hence the name), and a yellow band across their head. They are very shy and are uninterested in interacting with humans – no matter how much we may want to cuddle them. As their Māori name “noise shouters” may suggest, they will be heard, and they are resilient creatures. According to Jim Watts, a Department of Conservation Ranger, “They can use their flippers like a machine rifle and have a nasty bite.”
They are very vulnerable to rats, stoats, ferrets, dogs, cats, human interference, and climate change – especially heat stress.
Stay tuned for my interview with Penguin Place Manager Jason van Zanten!
Photo: Hoiho by Sian Mair.