Kaikōura Penguins

Our Penguins

New Zealand has more penguin species than any other country in the world and is regarded as a global penguin capital. Little penguins/kororā (threatened Blue penguins and endangered White-flippered penguins) breed in Kaikōura, with a remnant population which as at risk of local extinction. The region is also a foraging destination for Yellow-eyed penguins, Fiordland crested penguins, Snares crested penguins, Erect crested penguins and Eastern rockhopper penguins. Each year penguins rely on rescue via Project WellBird in relation to human related impacts. 

Starvation & Key Threats

Penguins frequently require assistance in relation to starvation due to decreased ocean productivity from human related impacts, with warming sea surface temperatures and overfishing resulting in diminished prey availability. Increased foraging effort and decreased foraging success, result in high energy expenditure and low return (e.g. traveling greater distances, more dive attempts per day, prey switching). Foraging impacts affect body condition, reducing reproductive success and survival, driving high mortality rates.

A common misconception is that penguins only feed on 'bait fish' and are not subject to commercial or recreational fishing pressure. Three quarters of Kaikōura little penguin/kororā prey (juvenile fish) is comprised of commercially and recreationally harvested species.

Additional sea based threats include fisheries bycatch, boat strike, marine entanglements (discarded fishing gear), plastic ingestion, and oil spills. Land based threats include dog attacks, introduced mammalian predators, habitat loss, development and human disturbance.

Moulting Penguins

Penguins undergo a catastrophic moult every year, to replace all plumage. Penguins must stay ashore continuously for a three week period to replace feathers during the annual moult. In Kaikōura moulting penguins are typically reported later, from February-April due to foraging impacts. In recent years, penguins have initiated delayed moults, as a result of decreased food sources and impaired breeding. If you encounter a penguin in an unusual area, looking scruffy during this time of year, it is likely undergoing the moult.

Penguins must shed and replace all of their feathers simultaneously. During the moult penguins are not waterproof and poorly insulated. During this period they are unable to forage at sea and lose up to half their body weight. Moulting is physically taxing for penguins, many of which are already in poor body condition in relation to decreased prey availability (climate change and overfishing).

Preventative Care

When underweight penguins initiate the moult, they risk starvation to moult completion, resulting in death. Every year, moulting penguins require supportive care due to challenging foraging conditions. Monitored penguins via Project BlueBird welfare checks and reported moulting penguins, require handover into captivity to facilitate nutritional support. Preventative care ensures that upon return to the wild, penguins have the physical strength to forage successfully and prepare for the next breeding season, enabling the best chance of survival. Breeding adults and chicks in poor condition also require ongoing assistance via supplemental feeding, and uplifting for rehabilitation or hand rearing. Almost all chicks no longer reach viable fledging weights due to malnourishment and require intervention.

Penguin Habitat & Disturbance

Kaikōura’s remnant Little penguin/kororā population is collapsing and urgently requires increased protection. Few breeding pairs remain in the district and halting loss is critical to prevent regional extinction. Penguins may seek refuge in coastal shrubs, under structures, backyard vegetation, woodpiles, wharves, rocky outcrops, stop banks, and vegetated dunes. Dog predation and human disturbance pose the greatest risks to penguins on land. Please do not search for vulnerable penguins at fragile sites and keep away from breeding habitat - these are not a viewing attraction and human disturbance is preventable. Penguins are not an entertainment commodity and viewing is discouraged. Residents and visitors can help penguins by not seeking them out.

Dog & Cat Management

Penguins are vulnerable to dog attacks, particularly during the breeding season and annual moult. Dog attacks pose the greatest risk to penguin survival on land, with roaming dogs causing avoidable penguin injury and mortality. Dogs detect penguin scent easily and must be kept under control in coastal areas. In Kaikōura the Animals Bylaw (2025) prohibits dogs at Point Kean, Kaikōura Peninsula, South Bay Marina, Coastguard, and South Bay Boat Park. At other sites dogs must be leashed year around where stipulated; whilst seasonal dog leashing is required from 1 September - 1 December (refer to Dog Control Areas).

In residential areas, pet and stray cats pose a threat at breeding sites, particularly to penguin chicks. Containing pet cats indoors from dusk to dawn in coastal areas saves lives. Desexing and microchipping pet cats is mandatory in Kaikōura, whilst  trapping unowned cats is vital to address predation impacts on threatened species.

Emergency Care

Penguins require emergency care regarding starvation, illness, and injury; e.g. emaciation, dog attacks, predation events, fisheries bycatch, boat strike trauma, marine entanglements, heat stress, poor body condition, moult related issues or disease. Starvation due to impaired marine ecosystem function is the primary cause for penguin admittance, with patients presenting with poor body scores and in renal failure. Assisting emaciated adults is critical, as is uplifting starving chicks or late clutches for captive rearing to prevent losses. Starving penguins are immune compromised and susceptible to disease (e.g. avian malaria), infection (e.g. Aspergillosis) and parasites (e.g. coccidia, ticks). Annually penguins are a primary patient in care, with the majority in critical condition, requiring life-saving emergency treatment. Until capacity building is achieved in Kaikōura to facilitate a wildlife hospital centre, unwell penguins are stabilised for urgent transfer, and housed short-term only (e.g. moult support) by the Trust’s voluntary wildlife rehabilitator. Enabling local wildlife care is a critical component of addressing welfare and conservation needs, alongside holistic ecosystem protection.

Community Guardianship

Community guardianship is a vital aspect of ensuring that penguins can coexist alongside people. Living more mindfully by making eco-friendly choices, taking only what we need from the sea (vs filling freezers), disposing of fishing gear responsibly, adhering to inshore boating speed limits (5 knots), picking up litter, keeping dogs on leads in coastal areas, addressing predation impacts of roaming cats, backyard trapping, and looking out for unwell penguins, are all actions that make a big difference for these taonga.

How To Help

  • Please report any beach cast penguins immediately, as these will be in critical condition regarding starvation, illness or injury.

    Please contact Project WellBird by completing our contact form, call the DOC Hotline on 0800 362 468; or handover to the nearest vet clinic.

    DOC rangers are able to arrange handover to Project WellBird’s volunteer wildlife rehabilitator for triage and stabilisation.

  • Please report moulting penguins if found unwell or unsafe in a high use area, where there is risk of human disturbance or dog attack.

    Moulting penguins require transfer into temporary care with Project WellBird’s voluntary wildlife rehabilitator, to prevent predation risk and provide supplemental feeding. The majority of moulting penguins are also suffering from starvation, and are reliant on supportive care.

  • If you encounter unwell or beach cast penguins, please report immediately.

    Please contact Project WellBird by completing our contact form, or informing the Department of Conservation via the DOC Hotline on 0800 362 468.

    Alternatively contact the Renwick DOC Office by phoning 03 572 9100, to request transfer to a local Kaikōura DOC ranger. DOC rangers will contact Project WellBird’s voluntary wildlife rehabilitator directly.

    Unwell penguins can be handed in to the nearest vet clinic. VetCare Kaikoura opening hours are Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm, Sat 9am-12pm. Patients may be transferred to the South Island Wildlife Hospital for diagnostics and long-term rehabilitation.