22/08/2026
Many visitors come to Dunedin hoping to see one of the world’s rarest penguins—the yellow-eyed penguin, or hoiho.
On our tours, we often talk about the many challenges these remarkable birds face. Sadly, the latest update suggests that even fewer hoiho remain than previously thought, with starvation appearing to be one of the major threats to their survival.
It is a heartbreaking reminder of just how vulnerable this precious species is—and how important ongoing conservation and rehabilitation work continues to be.
Only one yellow-eyed penguin chick from the past season is expected to survive to join the mainland breeding population. The Star reporter Sam Henderson speaks to a conservationist trialling live satellite tracking to rescue the dying birds before the species collapses.
