What Are Little Penguins?
At Penguin Rehab & Release, we work mainly with Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor) which are native to Australia and New Zealand. In Australia they are found throughout the southern coasts from south-western Western Australia to Central NSW, including Tasmania.
Significant populations of Little Penguins inhabit the North West coast of Tasmania, which is important for the survival of the species as their populations have declined on mainland Australia.
They are the smallest of the world's penguins, and arguably the noisiest. They engage in a lot of non-verbal communication but also have a variety of calls used both in water and on land. These calls are quite distinct and are used in a variety of situations, including:
Well adapted to life at sea, they swim and dive extremely well in all types of ocean conditions, and can hold their breath for up to two minutes. Eudyptula minor means "good little diver", so their scientific name is very apt.
They hunt and feed at sea during the day and can dive up to 700 times a day, mostly relatively shallow dives to about 30 metres, but may occasionally dive to 70 metres.
A salt gland above the eye allows them to extract the salt they take in from seawater which they then excrete through the nostrils. Their nostrils are partially covered by a flap, which protects them from inhaling water when they dive.
They also have a third eyelid which is used at sea to clean the eye and keep it moist. And, they can alter the shape of the lens in order to be able to see at different depths in the water.
Preening is necessary to maintain their water proofing using a waxy "preen oil" from their preen gland at the base of the tail, and "zipping up" the feathers and aligning them to fully cover their insulating down. They use their feet to preen around their eyes and head and frequently engage in mutual preening.
Significant populations of Little Penguins inhabit the North West coast of Tasmania, which is important for the survival of the species as their populations have declined on mainland Australia.
They are the smallest of the world's penguins, and arguably the noisiest. They engage in a lot of non-verbal communication but also have a variety of calls used both in water and on land. These calls are quite distinct and are used in a variety of situations, including:
- keeping in contact with each other,
- calls of unmated birds,
- to establish and maintain bonds,
- defending their territory,
- warning calls of danger, such as the approach of an intruder,
- communicating with their chicks,
- begging to be fed
- singing with their chicks a few days prior to them leaving for their first time at sea.
Well adapted to life at sea, they swim and dive extremely well in all types of ocean conditions, and can hold their breath for up to two minutes. Eudyptula minor means "good little diver", so their scientific name is very apt.
They hunt and feed at sea during the day and can dive up to 700 times a day, mostly relatively shallow dives to about 30 metres, but may occasionally dive to 70 metres.
A salt gland above the eye allows them to extract the salt they take in from seawater which they then excrete through the nostrils. Their nostrils are partially covered by a flap, which protects them from inhaling water when they dive.
They also have a third eyelid which is used at sea to clean the eye and keep it moist. And, they can alter the shape of the lens in order to be able to see at different depths in the water.
Preening is necessary to maintain their water proofing using a waxy "preen oil" from their preen gland at the base of the tail, and "zipping up" the feathers and aligning them to fully cover their insulating down. They use their feet to preen around their eyes and head and frequently engage in mutual preening.
Threats to Little Penguins
Little Penguin colonies have evolved alongside numerous native predators and seasonal changes in natural food supplies, which have a stabilising effect on normal populations. However, introduced predators such as rats, dogs and cats, and human interference pose a significant danger and exposure to increasing urban pressures threatens local extinctions.
Examples of human impact on penguin survival include:
Examples of human impact on penguin survival include:
- penguins caught as "by-catch" through becoming entangled in nets and drowning, including gill nets set near colonies, other fishing nets, and fishing lines;
- overfishing which can lead to the inability to feed their young and starvation;
- global warming which may affect food supply;
- pollution such as the accumulation of heavy metals in water;
- oil / chemical spills;
- plastic debris, which is a choking hazard at sea;
- jet skis, boats, outboard motors on fishing vessels;
- road traffic which kills and injures many penguins as they try to cross roads to breeding and resting sites - in the natural course of events penguins will sometimes travel over 500 metres inland;
- direct harassment by members of the public - for example, trying to pick up a penguin, take "selfies" with penguins or trying to photograph inside burrows;
- domestic animals such as dogs and cats allowed to roam uncontrolled through penguin habitat;
- disturbance of natural vegetation - clearing / burning vegetation, burrows and their inhabitants can easily be squashed by people and horses trampling through penguin habitat;
- infrastructure development along coastal areas inhabited by penguins.
Little Penguins In Care
Penguins, and other seabirds, require a specialised environment, specific equipment, and on-going care and monitoring in order to be successfully rehabilitated. If physically fit enough, after more than 3 or 4 days in care, penguins require regular and extensive swimming exercise to develop and maintain the fitness necessary for successful release. Prior to release, they need to be able to swim for up to 8 hours a day. They need a special pool which provides sufficient depth for them to dive and build up speed when diving and swimming.
Penguins and other seabirds are not adapted to our environment - in their habitats the sun, wind, rain and sea are continually scouring / cleaning and reducing pathogen overloads. They are not adapted to land as we are and so cannot cope with many of the bacteria, viruses and fungi that have little or no effect on us. Hygiene is therefore extremely important.
Penguins are particularly prone to overheating as their plumage is designed to help them maintain the proper body temperature in cold waters. Conversely, if they have lost their waterproofing they can also become over-chilled just as easily. It is important to keep them in an environment appropriate to their condition.
Stress can kill. Stress can be caused by many things and can lead to stress related diseases. We are much larger than penguins and, biologically, we are predators. Wild penguins know that we can be a threat to them and if they cannot escape us the stress of that continues to build and can be extremely harmful.
Maintaining an environment as similar as possible to their natural habitat, and with minimal human interference, is essential. As we work with wild birds and our focus is on rehabilitation for release back into the wild, it is imperative that we limit human interaction to only what is strictly necessary - because of this, the penguin rehabilitation facility is not open to visitors.
Penguins and other seabirds are not adapted to our environment - in their habitats the sun, wind, rain and sea are continually scouring / cleaning and reducing pathogen overloads. They are not adapted to land as we are and so cannot cope with many of the bacteria, viruses and fungi that have little or no effect on us. Hygiene is therefore extremely important.
Penguins are particularly prone to overheating as their plumage is designed to help them maintain the proper body temperature in cold waters. Conversely, if they have lost their waterproofing they can also become over-chilled just as easily. It is important to keep them in an environment appropriate to their condition.
Stress can kill. Stress can be caused by many things and can lead to stress related diseases. We are much larger than penguins and, biologically, we are predators. Wild penguins know that we can be a threat to them and if they cannot escape us the stress of that continues to build and can be extremely harmful.
Maintaining an environment as similar as possible to their natural habitat, and with minimal human interference, is essential. As we work with wild birds and our focus is on rehabilitation for release back into the wild, it is imperative that we limit human interaction to only what is strictly necessary - because of this, the penguin rehabilitation facility is not open to visitors.
Does This Little Penguin Need Help?
It can be difficult to assess whether or not a penguin is in distress. Wild animals universally try to hide injuries or illness as a way of trying to avoid predators. Penguins also have a very densely packed coat of feathers which can hide signs of injury or starvation. They have 3 times the feathers of other birds (it can be more than 10,000 feathers!) These feathers provide their waterproofing and tightly cover a coat of thick down which traps air and so provides insulation.
One of the key indicators of distress is abnormal behaviour. Little penguins come ashore after dark and leave for sea before first light, so penguin activity on land is normally nocturnal.
One of the key indicators of distress is abnormal behaviour. Little penguins come ashore after dark and leave for sea before first light, so penguin activity on land is normally nocturnal.
Signs Of Abnomal Behaviour
Healthy Little Penguins do not approach humans. If anyone approaches their instinct is to hide. Penguins found out and about during the day may be a sign that they need assistance, for example:
- out in the open on a beach,
- floundering in the water,
- being attacked by other birds (e.g. seagulls, crows),
- found away from penguin habitat.
If you think you've found a penguin in trouble, seek professional advice and follow our Emergency Care instructions. Do not put it in the water.
- out in the open on a beach,
- floundering in the water,
- being attacked by other birds (e.g. seagulls, crows),
- found away from penguin habitat.
If you think you've found a penguin in trouble, seek professional advice and follow our Emergency Care instructions. Do not put it in the water.
Want to learn more?
Cradle Coast online learning packages:
http://www.cradlecoast.com/online-learning-packages/
Download a Little Penguin fact sheet:
Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service fact sheet
http://www.cradlecoast.com/online-learning-packages/
Download a Little Penguin fact sheet:
Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service fact sheet