Slow Down for Little Blues

Little penguins are very vulnerable when they have to cross a road to get from the sea to their borrow. Here’s why:

Hit and run, Kaiteriteri, Fri 4 Aug 2023 approx 7.30pm. Family wiped out.

One little blue penguin left dead in the middle of the road, approx 30 metres north of the boat ramp. On 24 June another little blue was run over approx 100 metres north of this.

If this isn’t tragic enough, there’s much more.

This prime, breeding adult was one of a pair incubating 2 eggs. It was on its way back to its nest after a couple of days out feeding, to relieve its mate so it, in turn, could go out to sea and feed.

The mate will wait… and wait… and wait…and wait for its partner to return. But it will never arrive to take over incubating duties.

The mate will wait days, hungry and losing condition but desperate to keep their precious eggs warm. In the end, survival instinct will kick in and it will head back out to sea, alone, hopefully with enough strength to hunt for food and regain the strength it needs to survive at sea. But maybe not. Behind it will leave 2 abandoned eggs. A failed nest.

So one dead penguin, thoughtlessly run over, puts its mate at death’s door and extinguishes the hope of their next generation. A needless waste.

P L E A S E slow down around our beaches and bays. Keep a look out for penguins on the road especially after dusk and before dawn when they are coming and going from the sea. They can’t fly to get out of harm’s way!

Car strike is a significant threat to our little blues...and avoidable if we just take care. Their conservation status is at risk/declining – they need our help. We can do this.

Car strike at Kaiteriteri.