Farming

What problems does habitat loss and destruction cause the penguins?

A farmer’s point of view

Many farmers work hard to protect the yellow-eyed penguin. A well known example is the McGrouther family’s property, Penguin Place which earned the PGG Wrightson Habitat Improvement Award for their efforts in demonstrating what can be achieved for wildlife.

Farm Details

• Otago Peninsula coastal property of 235ha freehold plus 48.5ha lease
• 3500 stock units wintered 2006
• Originally carried 2500 Merino ewes, but recently changed to a lamb finishing operation
• A 28ha of QEII National Trust covenant of native flora, supplemented with new planting
• 15,000 mostly native trees in wildlife areas
• Important breeding place for yellow-eyed and blue penguins

What Impressed the Judges

• The covenanted area and extensive tree planting in wildlife areas
• A specially constructed public viewing system and tracks that enable visitors to view the wildlife without being seen
• Establishing and managing an operation that allows 50,000 visitors annually to view wildlife
• A natural, gravity fed water system that uses a series of dams or ponds
• The comprehensive predator control programme

• Maintaining a penguin hospital and ongoing research using own scientist

Several penguin breeding areas have been bought from farmers. Long Point in the Catlins, on a stunning stretch of the Otago coastline is an example. It was bought in 2007 and is now managed by the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust.