Scientific name: Eudyptula minor
IUCN status: LC – Least Concern
Size: Little Penguins stand at around 30cm tall
Weight: Little Penguins weigh around 1kg
Baby: A Little Penguin baby is called a "chick"

Little Penguins are widespread across Australia’s south, south-east, and west coasts, as well as the coasts of New Zealand. Breeding colonies around Australia primarily occur on offshore islands, where penguins are free from human disturbance and introduced predators. 

Little Penguins ear small fish and squid, eating up to 20% of their body weight in seafood every day!

Penguins are often assumed to live in cold and icy conditions, however Little Penguins live right on our doorstep, including the beaches and oceans around Sydney. These penguins forage along the coast and throughout Sydney Harbour, with breeding colonies including Lion Island in Pittwater, Five Islands near Port Kembla, and even on the Manly Headland. The Manly Penguins are NSW’s only mainland colony, with Penguins returning to breed annually.

Taronga works closely with the Office of Environment and Heritage, National Parks and Wildlife, Northern Beaches Council, Manly Environment Centre, and the local community to keep this Endangered colony safe. 

Sick and injured penguins are brought to Taronga’s Wildlife Hospital to be cared for and rehabilitated until they’re fit enough to return to the wild. Around 30 penguins will be cared for in our hospital each year. 
 

Romantic at Heart

Little Penguin breeding pairs will often mate for life, especially if they are successful in raising a chick - although may find a new partner in following seasons if unsuccessful or if one of the partners does not return to the breeding grounds. A pair will return to the same location and often the same burrow each year, between June and August, and build their nest in September.  

Penguins under Pressure

Living so close to humans brings its challenges to this species, with threats that include habitat loss, pollution, predation from cats, dogs, and foxes. Keeping cats indoors and dogs on leashes is an important step towards protecting penguins and other native wildlife. Another key action is reducing plastic pollution, which can entangle penguins or be ingested by mistake. Swapping single-use plastics for reusable alternatives can go a long way to protecting our penguins. Visit our Litter Free Oceans page to find out more about the difference you can make!

For more than 20 years, Taronga’s Education team have been delivering Project Penguin, a Conservation Education Program for primary schools students located around the Manly area. This is done in partnership with Northern Beaches Learning Alliance, NPWS Rangers, Northern Beaches Council, Coastal Environment Centre and NPWS Volunteer Penguin Wardens. For ten weeks, primary school students – with their high school mentors – undertake a range of activities to deepen their knowledge of the Little Penguins, threats to the colony and positive actions that we can all take to protect the species. Students then develop their own prototype solutions and create a community awareness campaign focused on protecting this important species.