Campervan Hire Causes

In 1987 Dunedin conservationists formed the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust with the aim of saving the penguin by restoring coastal forest and controlling predators. The penguin is the focus but the Trust’s efforts also benefit other native species of plant and animal.

The Trust is based in Dunedin but manages land and penguin interests in the whole of mainland New Zealand.

What is their brand statement?

“Committed to creating natural environments where threatened yellow-eyed penguins can thrive”

What does their brand mean?

PENGUINS - PEOPLE - PLANTS - PASSION

• Committed to protecting endangered yellow-eyed penguins

• People are crucial to creating natural environments where yellow-eyed penguins can thrive

• To inspire people to learn about rare and endangered yellow-eyed penguins

• Passionate about saving yellow-eyed penguins and the environment in which they live

What are they currently doing?

In its first 20 years the Trust protected eight habitats, by providing fencing to protect the nests from wandering stock in some areas, and by purchasing three other areas and turning them into penguin reserves.

They have developed their own plant Nursery where plants sourced from local seed, are grown and then planted out in the appropriate habitat to provide more shelter and better nesting sites for the penguins.

The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust is a conservation organisation highly respected by the Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Conservation for its work in the preservation of the rare and endangered yellow-eyed penguin.

Current Key tasks include:

• Revegetation
• Predator trapping
• Public awareness
• Education

Where are they going from here?

The Trust’s first twenty years have seen the penguin population increase, yet they are still a long way from being a self-sustaining population. This has been a joint effort between the Trust, Department of Conservation, private landowners, scientists and individuals. The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust looks forward to the day when they and other penguin conservationists have made ourselves redundant.

What is the problem?

In the 1980s research on the Otago Peninsula showed that the penguin population had declined severely, and that the yellow-eyed penguin was now considered to be an endangered species. This was due to severe predation and loss of habitat.

This unique penguin is found only along New Zealands south islands’ eastern coastline, as far north as Banks Peninsula and as far south as Stewart Island and beyond to Campbell Island. The Yellow-eyed penguin is a black and white bird with distinct yellow eye stripes. It is a very secretive bird that nests away from others amongst dense vegetation normally raising two chicks every year.