From The Conversation (10/12/24)…
‘Unseen world’: researchers capture fascinating footage of the world’s smallest penguins in a bid to save them
On Granite Island off South Australia, a colony of little penguins is fighting to survive. About two decades ago, the penguins numbered 1,600 adults – now there are just 30.
It is important for scientists to monitor and study this little penguin colony, to observe their behaviours and stop their numbers from declining.
In our latest research project, my colleagues and I captured footage of the penguins over several breeding seasons, as part of a study into their parenting behaviours. It provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse into the unseen world of these vulnerable birds.
So let’s take a look at what Granite Island’s little penguins get up to when humans aren’t watching.
The world’s tiniest penguin
Little penguins (Eudyptula novaehollandiae) are the world’s smallest penguin species. They typically grow to about 35 centimetres and weigh an average 1.2 kilograms. They live in coastal waters in Tasmania and southern Australia – including on Granite Island, about 100 kilometres south of Adelaide.
The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway, and draws up to 800,000 visitors a year.
The stark decline in little penguin numbers on Granite Island is due to several factors. They include predators such as fur seals and foxes, changing environmental conditions, declines in fish numbers, and human disturbance.