Kadi Kaljuste

Months ago when we were planning this trip, we discovered that New Zealand has a rare type of penguin, called the yellow-eyed penguin. I was determined to visit some. Up the peninsula from Dunedin, there are a couple of places where it’s possible to do just that. The one we selected is called Opera - Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance, a private eco-reserve dedicated to conservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and education.

Yellow-eyed penguins, according to Opera, “are one of the rarest penguins in the world and are only found in New Zealand. Their Māori name, hoiho (meaning noisy shouter), was given because of their shrill calls. Hoiho are not as social as other penguins. Very shy, they prefer to nest well away and out of sight of their neighbours. Hoiho are dependent on both marine and terrestrial habitats.” You can learn more about yellow-eyed penguins here: https://www.yellow-eyedpenguin.org.nz/penguins/

We had hoped we would see some of the yellow-eyed penguins coming in from the water on the beach. We had no such luck. That said, we knew we would see some because the centre is caring for 36 chicks that are malnourished. They’re fattening them up and will return them to their parents when they’re about three months old. The ones we saw today were two to three months old. They’re among the most unique penguins we’ve ever seen. Once they get older, their eyes will become more yellow and they will have a yellow streak running from their eyes.

It was a very special experience and I’m so grateful we were able to see them.

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