A comprehensive research initiative focused on the Fiordland crested penguin, known locally as tawaki, is revealing new insights into one of New Zealand’s least understood bird species. Led by Dr. Thomas Mattern at the University of Otago, the Tawaki Project has conducted extensive population surveys across remote fjords in Fiordland National Park over the past 12 years, mapping approximately 1,200 nests across nine fjords.
The research indicates that the tawaki population is substantially larger than previously believed, estimated at 12,000 to 15,000 mature birds—roughly three times higher than earlier surveys suggested. This improved understanding prompted the International Union for Conservation of Nature to revise the species’ status from “vulnerable” to “near-threatened” in 2020. The penguins, which stand approximately half a metre tall and are distinguished by prominent yellow eyebrows, differ markedly from other penguin species in their breeding and foraging patterns.
Unlike most penguins that breed in colonies, tawaki nest exclusively in deep rainforest burrows, sometimes at high elevations, earning them the designation of “jungle penguins.” Their hunting strategies vary by location, with some populations fishing exclusively within fjords while others venture into open ocean. Most remarkably, the birds undertake lengthy 5,000 to 7,000 kilometre return journeys to sub-Antarctic feeding grounds following breeding season, despite abundant food sources nearby—behavior researchers believe stems from ancient instincts shared with other crested penguin species.
The Tawaki Project operates through public donations and international grants, supported by local volunteers and tourism operators. Ongoing research focuses on survival rates and population stability to determine whether intervention is needed to protect the species. Threats to tawaki include commercial fishing practices and other environmental pressures in their Fiordland habitat.
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