In an election marked by spirited campaigns and the absence of the usual scandals, the endangered yellow-eyed penguin, known as the hoiho, emerged victorious as New Zealand’s Bird of the Year 2024. The shy, fish-scented bird with a piercing call secured this prestigious title for the second time, sparking hope for the species’ conservation.
Rare Penguin in Need of Attention
The hoiho—whose name means “noise shouter” in Māori—has earned a reputation as one of the world’s rarest penguins. It is native to New Zealand, primarily inhabiting the South Island’s eastern coast and the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands. The bird is easily recognizable by the pale yellow band of feathers that connects its eyes, distinguishing it from other penguins.
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With an estimated global population of only 4,000 to 5,000 individuals, the hoiho is facing a sharp decline. Over the past 15 years, mainland breeding populations have plummeted by 78%, including an alarming 18% drop in just the last year. Conservationists, like Nicola Toki, CEO of Forest & Bird, emphasized the urgency of this win: “This spotlight couldn’t have come at a more crucial time.”
Facing Multiple Threats
Despite extensive conservation efforts, the hoiho is “being hammered from all angles,” according to Toki. The penguin faces numerous threats, including diseases, dog attacks, and predation by introduced species. Their strong fishy scent, while helpful in foraging, unfortunately makes them vulnerable to dogs, which can detect the penguins from afar.
The hoiho also suffers in the ocean, where set nets—fishing nets anchored to the seafloor—cause them to drown, while food scarcity further jeopardizes their survival. Environmentalists like Toki are calling for the establishment of marine protected areas to address these challenges and secure the bird’s future.
Scandal-Free Campaign
Unlike previous years, which were marred by controversies such as foreign interference and fraudulent votes, the 2024 Bird of the Year competition was refreshingly scandal-free. In 2019, Russian voters were accused of meddling in favor of a local species, and in 2021, a bat controversially won the bird competition.
This year, the competition remained a more “homegrown” affair, attracting over 52,000 verified votes, a significant drop from 2023, when comedian John Oliver’s international campaign for the pūteketeke led to 350,000 votes from 195 countries. The hoiho secured 6,328 votes, winning over a wide array of supporters, including famed conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, former New Zealand Prime Ministers Helen Clark and Chris Hipkins, and Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan.
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The hoiho campaign, which was run by a coalition of wildlife groups, a museum, a brewery, and a rugby team from Dunedin, took on a grassroots tone. Local campaigners engaged in meme wars and even got tattoos to show their loyalty to the penguin. Despite fierce competition, including a strong bid from the karure, or black robin, and the much-beloved kākāpō, the hoiho triumphed.