Date: 10 December 2020
Ngāi Tahu and DOC alongside the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust (YEPT) have today released the season’s mainland hoiho numbers which estimates a minimum 177 breeding pairs on the coast between Oamaru and Curio Bay – 10 more than last season.
Three nests were also recorded on Banks Peninsula, up two on last year.
DOC southern South Island operations director Aaron Fleming says while it is good to see the mainland numbers haven’t declined this year, all is not well for this vulnerable species.
“While there have been some gains at some locations – north Otago has had a 15% increase in numbers, other places have had losses; Nugget Point for example recorded just two breeding pairs this year compared to 4 last year.