Endorsed Project
Hoiho Protection Project
Agency funded: University of Otago, the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust and the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital
Moana Mark endorses the research and care fighting to save hoiho, one of the world’s rarest penguins, on New Zealand’s mainland.
Did you know?
Hoiho is the penguin on New Zealand’s five-dollar note, and one of the rarest penguins in the world.
On the mainland, hoiho numbers have crashed by around 80% in the northern population since 2008/09, and modelling suggests they could disappear from the mainland within a generation.
Protecting them takes both science and hands-on care, brought together by University of Otago researchers, the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust and the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital.
Why study hoiho?
How are they studied?
Long-term nest and population monitoring, disease investigation, and hospital care and rehabilitation of sick and injured birds. Recent genetic work has even shown that hoiho are three distinct subspecies.
What does this research tell us?
The monitoring shows how steep the decline has been and where help is most urgently needed, from disease outbreaks to food shortages at sea.
How does this help protect them?
Funding keeps birds alive right now, through nest protection, disease response and hospital care, while scientists work out what is driving the collapse.
Help us save hoiho before it is too late by backing the science and the care keeping them alive.
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