Penguins starved to death, tests show

The death of dozens of little blue penguins which washed up on Waikato's west coast beaches last month has been attributed to starvation.

In January, the Conservation Department (DOC) reported the discovery of 50 dead little blue penguins on a stretch of coastline from Kawhia to Port Waikato.

In the same week, dead little blue penguins were also discovered on Taranaki beaches amid speculation they may have died from an algal bloom on the region's coast.

The discovery of a surprisingly large number of dead seabirds along that coastline was considered unusual, but DOC biodiversity threats ranger Garry Hickman said histology tests by the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry determined the specimens sent for testing had died of starvation.

Mr Hickman said the birds showed "no sign of disease or trauma" and there remained some mystery over what had caused the animals to starve.

"It may just be nature taking its course," he said.

There had been no further reports of dead penguins from Waikato west coast residents, and there was a possibility the birds had simply not found food.

"It's a mystery, and we may never know," Mr Hickman said.

He said testing of dead penguins found off the Taranaki coast had shown the algae to be non-toxic.

- © Fairfax NZ News