Occasionally, walking along the beach, we have all come across the sad sight of a dead seabird. Just as our Trust is interested in reports of dead penguins to help inform our conservation efforts, there are others interested in all dead seabirds as an important way of studying seabird movements throughout the year and understanding […]
Although the early new year is set to bring rain to many areas, severe marine heatwaves are forecast for the bottom of the South Island where sea surface temperatures will reach a whopping 4 degrees or more above average. This is according to MetService oceanographer Dr Joao de Souza, who is tracking marine heatwaves as […]
SwellMap’s temperature anomaly map showing water temperatures in the Cook Strait are up 1.45°C above average on the 23rd of December 2022. Now available: Ocean temperature forecast shows if water is colder or warmer than expected As the climate changes, our seas are getting warmer. A new forecast developed by the MetService-led Moana Project is […]
Roughly a quarter of the yellow-eyed penguin chicks from the mainland died from the respiratory disease during the 2021 November to December hatching season. The likely cause of a disease that’s resulted in mass deaths among critically endangered hoiho (yellow eyed penguin) chicks has been discovered, but perhaps with hopes it can eventually be prevented. Read the […]
“Chile’s government has rejected a controversial $2.5bn iron and copper mining project proposed in an important area for biodiversity and marine life. The Dominga project, 70km north of the city of La Serena, would have seen an open-pit mine, processing and desalination plants, as well as a large port, installed just 30km from a famed […]
Every year, our furry friends injure and kill hundreds of native and endangered coastal species. Many marine mammals and sea birds such as seals, kororā and red-billed gulls are under threat due to attacks by cats and dogs. That’s prompted the Department of Conservation to launch a campaign aimed at protect our native species. Rayssa Almeida […]
“A penguin from Auckland’s Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium has become the first of its kind to undergo cataract surgery in New Zealand. Cardi, a seven-year-old gentoo penguin, underwent the surgery on April 29, after developing vision-blocking cataracts in both eyes….. Since her recovery, the sea life team have noticed a change in Cardi’s confidence. “She no […]
A new, highly pathogenic form of avian flu has been sweeping through wild bird populations across the Northern hemisphere. The unprecedented levels of mortality seen in some species of seabirds have left conservationists extremely concerned about the disease’s long-term impacts. As we emerge from the most devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, another pandemic has been […]
“Dogs are renowned for their ability to identify and track objects by scent. Now it’s been revealed they enhance this talent with special brain structures that link it to how they see. A study published this month in the Journal of Neuroscience revealed that vision and the sense of smell are connected in the brains of […]
Looking to the future, Moana Project research shows that average sea temperatures could increase by 1.4 degrees by 2060, and by almost 3 degrees by the end of the century. This has wide implications for marine life, including fisheries and aquaculture. This means that by mid-century we may be facing 260 days of marine heatwaves […]
