Little penguins re-establish breeding grounds in southeastern Australia

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – A small colony of little penguins, once known as extinct, in a town of New South Wales in southeastern Australia, has re-established breeding grounds, local broadcaster ABC reported on Wednesday.

The penguin species had long inhabited Eden town, with records dating back to the 1930s, but they were declared extinct locally in the 1990s due to storms and predators.

However, several breeding pairs were recently spotted laying eggs and raising chicks around Twofold Bay.

Two pairs were discovered near the Eagles Claw Nature Reserve, while another six pairs were found closer to the Eden Wharf.

Their return to Eden is believed to be the result of an audio system that projects mating sounds, which aimed to entice more penguins to settle back at the fenced-off Eagles Claw site.

But some penguins decided to settle at the second breeding ground near the site.

"They've created new homes, which is wonderful but it's a bit tricky because it's not very well protected against foxes, dogs and the public," seabird researcher Nicholas Carlisle was quoted by the ABC as saying.

Eden is one of the only two mainland penguin breeding sites in New South Wales, with the other located at Manly in Sydney.