There are growing concerns for the Hauraki Gulf's penguins with ten chicks found starving and dozens dead on Waiheke Island in the past few weeks. It has conservationists worried that we could be seeing a repeat of the mass die-off of kororā in the summer of 2017-2018. The deaths are thought to be due to over-fishing and rising sea temperatures, which drive the fish the birds feed on into deeper water where they can't catch them. Reporter Louise Ternouth and camera operator Tim Collins have the story.
A spate of baby penguin deaths has raised concerns there could be a repeat of a catastrophic breeding season of five years ago, where there were mass fatalities of korora. On Waiheke Island alone seven baby penguins have been found emaciated. One has had to be put down. In the summer of 2017- 2018 hundreds of penguin chicks died. Native Bird Rescue on Waiheke Island is providing intensive care to the struggling underweight baby penguins. Karen Saunders from the team speaks to Lisa Owen. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default default/index.html?videoId=6339496515112