The abundant deaths are leading scientists and conservation experts to ask: How much is normal? And will it get worse?
Mass die-offs of the penguins — meaning 1,000 or more washed up — used to be a “once in a decade” event, the department said. In 1974, for example, 4,737 penguins washed up, and 11 years later, 5,386 did.But climate change is probably making it a lot worse for the penguins as sea surface temperatures increase and marine heat waves and storms become more frequent.
“We may expect to see a corresponding increase in the amount of mass die-offs of penguin and other sea creatures,” said the departmentClimate change brings warmer waters, forcing the penguins to venture into colder, deeper waters for foraging. That change can make it harder for little penguins to nest, breed and find food, the department said. They starve, fall ill on top of stress and exhaustion and are more vulnerable to predators in the deep waters.
While the penguins were once common on the mainland coast, now they are largely found on more-remote islands — far from threats and disturbances from humans, dogs and introduced predators.a construction zone at a marina development on Waiheke Island, off the coast of Auckland in northern New Zealand, which they said was disturbing korora habitats.