Latest news with #littlepenguins
ABC News
07-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
City of Rockingham wants Penguin Island closed to visitors as concerns for bird population grows
The City of Rockingham is lobbying for the closure of tourist attraction Penguin Island, as the dwindling population of the animals that gave the island its name reaches crisis point. But there are reservations about what impact the measure would have on increasing bird numbers. Conservationists have long called for the island to be shut to visitors to allow for the restoration of the little penguin population, which has dropped by 94 per cent since 2007 — leaving an estimated 114 birds. One of Penguin Island's penguins is examined. ( ABC News: Pamela Medlen ) Scientists say warming sea temperatures have impacted on the penguins' food source, with human activity and migration patterns also contributing to population decline. The City of Rockingham in March resolved to "immediately and urgently" request the state and federal governments close the island for at least two years. Rockingham Mayor Deb Hamblin confirmed the city has now written to the state government to request the temporary closure of the island. Deb Hamblin has requested the state government close Penguin Island to visitors. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Davis ) She said the suggestion was made by a ratepayer, and there was not yet evidence to show a two-year closure would support the penguin population. Ms Hamblin said more research was needed to understand how the penguins can be saved. "I think there are a number of options that the researchers are looking at, because the effects are coming from a whole range of issues, not just people on the island, but also climate change, food sources, water, temperature," she told ABC Radio Perth. Penguins in nesting boxes at Penguin Island. ( Supplied: Rotary Club ) "The public are concerned, of course, but we're not the experts. "I understand that people are passionate and want to come up with the best solutions, but I think we really do need to rely on the experts." Not everyone convinced The Penguin Island Visitor Centre's Tracy Brown said she was unconvinced closing the park was the solution to the island's penguin problem. Tracy Brown is the operations manager at Perth Wildlife Encounters. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Davis ) "I just don't see that it's going to be effective for the penguins," she said. "Scientists are saying that the penguins are decreasing in population because of a lack of food source and due to climate change, nothing to do with people on the island. " If anything … tourism brings education and awareness about the penguins on the island. " A number of measures have already been implemented to try to bolster the penguin population, including enforcing a longer winter closure period, shutting the island on days when the temperature exceeds 35 degrees Celsius, and installing nesting boxes to help the birds survive the heat. This year Rotary has insulated the penguin nesting boxes to keep them cool. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Davis ) The state government also scrapped plans to build a new discovery centre on the island, with Mersey Point on the mainland identified as a possible alternative. Photo shows Aerial shot of Penguin Island. Conservationists are calling for Penguin Island to be closed to visitors to allow the dwindling little penguin population to recover. A business case for the proposal is currently being prepared, with a timeline for delivery yet to be announced. Ms Brown said the tourism community was eager for the proposal to get underway. "A discovery centre built close by to the island would bring about better education for our parents and their kids, our international visitors," she said. "It would bring a real drawcard of tourism to the island, and we'd also have something in the area that we can be really proud of." Island a 'priority': government A state government spokesperson said the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) was working hard to reduce pressures on the little penguin population. "In addition, DBCA is finalising enhanced visitor facilities that are crucial for educating visitors about the island's unique wildlife, ensuring the protection of penguins while allowing people to enjoy the island," they spokesperson said. Penguin Island is off the coast of Rockingham. ( ABC Radio Perth: Emma Wynne ) "Penguin Island is an important conservation and tourism asset, and the welfare of little penguins on Penguin Island continues to be a priority for the state government." The newly formed Little Penguin Advisory Group also held its first meeting in February, and is due to provide advice to DBCA by the end of the year. Loading
ABC News
07-05-2025
- Science
- ABC News
VIDEO: Tasmanian sea surface temperatures for December 2024
A drop in little penguin numbers was noticed around the middle of the month. Scientists say the East Australia Current is extending further south and impacting ecosystems. (Data from Australia's Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS))
ABC News
07-05-2025
- ABC News
Adult little penguins return to Tasmanian town of Bicheno after marine heatwave passes
After months of quiet, little penguins returning to the east coast Tasmanian town of Bicheno have made their presence known to locals. "Last night I went outside, and it was the first time in four months that I could actually hear penguins loudly calling," local wildlife tour guide Nic Wardlaw said. "I've had locals pulling me up in the street the last few days going, 'the penguins are back, I can hear them'," Mr Wardlaw said. " You've got this cacophony of noise happening, [and] this is how Bicheno is — we're used to that. " Clusters of adult little penguins waddling ashore to feed their babies at night is a celebrated sight for locals and tourists in Bicheno. But from mid-December last year to May this year an Mr Wardlaw's business, Bicheno Penguin Tours, monitors the local penguin population, as part of community observation of the colony — but there are calls for more comprehensive monitoring. Mr Wardlaw said since early April, the number of adult penguins returning to shore had slowly crept up from an unprecedented low of zero to six. He said currently they were seeing more than 60, which is more than is usually seen at this time of year. Mr Wardlaw said it was a "huge relief". Little penguins returning to Bicheno on Monday. ( Supplied: Nic Wardlaw ) He said the town had taken a hit in what should have been its busiest time of year. "People were actually starting to say, 'the penguins are gone'," he said. " The whole town markets itself around penguins. It was just like we lost our identity to a point, it was quite frightening. " A little penguin chick that was abandoned last summer. ( Supplied ) Warm water led to depleted food, ecologist says Seabird ecologist Eric Woehler said a "pulse of warm water" off the east coast of Tasmania through summer depleted food sources for foraging adults. "The conditions were such that the adult penguins essentially abandoned the breeding effort of their chicks on shore, because there was no food around for them," Dr Woehler said. "The birds were required to swim farther offshore or deeper into the water to try and get sufficient food for them and their chicks." Dr Woehler said the penguins were not displaced, but "just spent their time at sea". "The birds are quite happy to spend time at sea, they can sleep on the water," he said. " We're starting to see an increase in activity that suggests that we're going to see winter breeding. " Little penguins can spend long periods of time at sea. ( Taronga Zoo ) Tasmania, a 'climate change hotspot' Caused by an extension of the East Australia Current, waters off Tasmania's east coast have been warming at four times the global average, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) oceanographer Stuart Corney said. "Sea surface temperatures globally have been warming over the last 40 years, but Tasmania is actually a climate change hotspot for global warming," Dr Corney said. " We're at about one degree of warming off east coast Tasmania, whereas globally, it's about a quarter of a degree. " Dr Corney and Dr Woehler said it appeared to be a localised issue that affected the Bicheno little penguins. Dr Corney said little penguins were "really exposed to local conditions". "And we've seen marine heatwaves in Tasmania increasingly over the last few years — this is when we get localised regions that warm up and stay warm for maybe a period of weeks, up to a couple of months," he said. " We are seeing warning signs across a range of species, and it's likely to become worse as climate change increases. " Calls for advisory group's re-convening Dr Woehler said due to the unique responses of each penguin colony to its local environment, comprehensive monitoring was required, "so that we know what's happening with our penguins around the state". A Little Penguin Advisory Group was disbanded in 2021. Tasmania's Natural Resources and Environment Department (NRE) said the group had accomplished its aims. But Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said the increasing environmental pressure on the Bicheno colony highlighted why the group should be reconvened. "At the moment, [monitoring] is being done by community groups," Senator Whish-Wilson said. Nic Wardlaw says it's a "huge relief" to see penguins returning to Bicheno. ( Supplied: Bicheno Penguin Tours ) Mr Wardlaw said the temporary drop in penguin numbers had led the public to be more conscious of the species' habitat. "People are actually doing a bit of research now and there's quite a bit of information in the town." He said he was remaining optimistic about the penguins' future. "Obviously sea temperatures are changing and rising, but I'm going to be positive about it and say that I think the penguins will stay here," he said. " They seem pretty settled, there's evidence of pairing and courtship going on. " Dr Woehler said he was hopeful the Bicheno colony could make up for the loss during the last breeding season. In a statement, a spokesperson said the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania works with organisations and community groups on little penguin management. "The numbers of penguins at different breeding locations fluctuate throughout the year based on breeding stage and natural changes in local resources. NRE Tas does not undertake any regular statewide monitoring of little penguin breeding colonies, the vast majority of which occur on offshore islands." The "Little penguins are not listed as a threatened species, but are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2002."
