Call for Tourist Ban on Popular Island to Protect Little Penguins
Activists urge a ban on tourism at Penguin Island to save dwindling little penguin numbers
Penguin Island, Perth, Little Penguins, Dawn Jenks, Conservation
Perth: There’s a growing call to ban tourism on Penguin Island to help the little penguins. The population has dropped drastically, and folks are worried.
Only 114 little penguins are left on the island, which is about 53km south of Perth. That’s a staggering 94% decline since 2007! Dawn Jenks, an activist, is sounding the alarm.
She points out that while climate change is a big issue, tourism has been a major problem for these little guys for years. With around 130,000 visitors each year, the penguins are struggling to find a safe spot to cool off.
During the summer, when the penguins are molting, they can’t even get to the water without being disturbed. They have to wait until the last ferry leaves before they can come out. It’s pretty sad.
Plus, about 25% of little penguin deaths are due to boat strikes, and with more boats around, the situation is getting worse. Jenks believes the island should be closed for a few years to let the penguin population bounce back.
She also mentioned how it would be embarrassing for Rockingham to have all these penguin symbols but no actual penguins left. It’s a part of their identity!
Interestingly, a study found that the penguins mostly stay close to the coast, where human activity is high. The local population has nearly doubled, and boat ownership is through the roof.
Chad D’Souza, a local tourism operator, thinks tourists aren’t the problem. He believes the government should step up and fund a discovery center to educate visitors instead of just focusing on tourism.
He argues that the penguins are suffering not just from tourism but also from global warming and a lack of fish. D’Souza wants to see a conservation area established to help the penguins thrive.
The WA government says they’re committed to protecting the penguins and have already taken steps like extending winter closures and closing the island when it gets too hot.
They’re also working on a potential discovery center to educate people about the penguins and the local environment. It seems like they’re trying to balance tourism with conservation, but many are still concerned.