The list goes on: World's rarest penguin faces the threat of extinction

Mumbai, November 27: Every religion, philosophy, spiritual leaders have said greed is one of the most dangerous traits of the human race. Now we can realize why they have said so. One after another species is on the verge of extinction due to commercial activities of ours. The yellow-eyed penguin, which lives exclusively in New Zealand, is in real danger due to commercial fishing.

As per reports, almost half the breeding population the yellow-eyed penguin, has disappeared in one part of New Zealand. From 7000 in 2000 to less than 1800 in 2017- this is the rate of decline in the number of Hoiho’s population. These birds are facing various threats including wild dogs to a hostile marine environment. The bird’s population has reached its lowest in last 27 years.

Fishing trawlers for commercial fishing many times cause death to these innocent birds. Moreover, only 3% of trawlers in the island are supervised by independent observers, who report bycatch deaths. While last year 24 hoiho nests were found, this time rangers only found 14.

"There is an active set net fishery within the penguins' Whenua Hou foraging ground, and the indications are that nearly half the Whenua Hou hoiho population has been drowned in one or more of these nets," Chief Executive of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Kevin Hague said(the Guardian).