A disturbing trend has emerged in Tasmania, where the beloved penguins that call its beaches home are facing a growing threat from human interference. This issue has sparked concern among locals and wildlife experts, prompting calls for action to protect these vulnerable birds.
Each summer, Tasmania's beaches become a bustling hub as tourists flock to witness the nightly ritual of penguins returning from the sea to feed their chicks. It's a spectacle that draws visitors from far and wide, especially during the breeding season when the penguins are most active.
However, this popularity comes at a cost. At certain beaches, the penguins' natural habitat is being invaded, with reports of disturbing behavior that has left locals and wildlife carers shocked.
"I haven't witnessed anything like that in my life," said Scott Waterman, who visited Tatlows Beach in Stanley and saw crowds ignoring signs, with people poking baby penguins, trying to pick them up, and even taking flash photography right in their faces. "The behavior of most people there was bordering on... disgusting."
Similar concerns have been raised at Pirates Bay on the Tasman Peninsula, where Annie Gifford, who runs the community group Friends of Pirates Bay Penguins, fears the little penguin colony could disappear without intervention. She receives regular reports of tourists chasing penguins, trying to pick them up, and even running after them for photographs.
"Most tourists do want to do the right thing," Gifford said, "but there are many who can't or won't. With tourism on the rise, we must ask ourselves: Do we say goodbye to our natural habitats, or what should we do to protect them?"
Kathy Grievson, a wildlife carer who rehabilitates seabirds in Tasmania's northwest, sees the consequences firsthand. She cares for several injured penguins, including a chick in intensive care with severe damage to its neck and throat after being handled by the neck. Grievson emphasizes that penguins are particularly vulnerable during the breeding season when they are easier to spot and access.
"They're fair game during the breeding season," she said. "They are flightless birds, and the chicks are in their burrows all the time. People can find them easily, and their actions can have a significant impact."
Perviz Marker, a penguin ecologist, agrees that reports of penguin interference are disappointing and could have long-term impacts on penguin colonies. She highlights that in the short term, the chick's growth and survival will likely decrease, and in the long term, the population in that area could decline.
"If the disturbance keeps going, the birds will stop coming in to breed in that area," Marker said. "Designated viewing sites are the safest way to see penguins, as they provide guidance and information on how to behave around these birds."
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment in Tasmania has acknowledged receiving occasional reports of penguin interference. They investigate these reports and, if necessary, charge members of the public accordingly. The Parks and Wildlife Services collaborate with councils, community groups, and wildlife carers to address penguin management concerns across the state, including at Pirates Bay and Stanley.
However, Gifford believes more needs to be done. "We sell our national parks, but those penguins have been here long before the parks existed. Losing a colony would be a sign that we don't know how to manage our resources."
So, what can be done to protect these penguins? Should businesses that benefit from penguin tourism take a more proactive role in their protection? And how can we ensure that tourists understand the importance of respecting wildlife and their natural habitats? These are questions that need answering to ensure the long-term survival of Tasmania's beloved penguins.
