Dear Penguin Supporter

Unfortunately I have some very disturbing news.

Half the little penguin chicks from this year’s breeding season on Penguin Island have died, as the colony dwindles and researchers accuse the WA state government of failing to act.

It is thought up to 20 chicks, which represented 10% of the colony, were lost after New Year’s Day when their parents were unable to feed them, resulting in the worst breeding season since 2011.

You can read more about what happened at the link below.

Since our petition commenced, there has been a change in Environment Minister. Reece Whitby, the MLA for Baldivis in the City of Rockingham, is the new Environment Minister.

Please resign the petition and also consider writing a separate personal email to the new Minister at Minister.Whitby@dpc.wa.gov.au.

Personal direct emails are powerful. It shows that people really care. You don’t have to be articulate. Simply state that you care and that you want him to take urgent action.

Not sure what to say? Then here are some talking points you may wish to use in your email to Minister Whitby

Ø  The DBCA are planning to build a bigger, expanded tourism centre on Penguin Island. This will destroy more penguin nesting habitat and make things worse, not better. Tell him to delay the construction until DBCA conduct a transparent, public consultation

Ø  Little Penguins are really struggling.  We need a better balance between tourism and conservation so our kids and grandkids can still enjoy these magnificent birds. Tell him that DBCA need a science-based Little Penguin conservation plan that includes management to deal with climate heating

Ø  Tell him that DBCA need a public, transparent and science-based approach to conserving Little Penguins and that they need to be held to account

Ø  Tell him that our best success stories in conservation are when the community is engaged, scientists are consulted, and managers are transparent and empowered. Tell him that Little Penguins deserve to be saved and that the best way to do that is to have scientists engaged and a public, transparent plan that prioritizes Little Penguin conservation.

Ø  Tell him that complacency, more meetings, and bureaucracy will not save Little Penguins and that the situation with Little Penguins is urgent. We need action now. Not next year or five years from now.  DBCA want to give up and let the Penguin Island colony go extinct. We cannot allow complacency and lack of urgency to rule the day. Ask him what will we tell our kids if the Penguin Island colony becomes extinct in the next few years?

Ø  Tell him that solutions to save Rockingham’s little penguins are on the table. Management actions have been put forward to DBCA including habitat rehabilitation, temporary island closures during heatwaves, the proper planning of the new $3.3m tourism facility including a proviso for the development to be postponed and potentially relocated to the mainland if it is found to be too intrusive on the population at sensitive times, and a scheme that will boost the numbers of Little Penguins’ prey – white bait – in nearby waters. We now need action from the WA government.

Ø  Tell him that there is still hope for the declining little penguin population on Rockingham’s Penguin Island if the WA government follows the advice of scientists.

Keep up to date by following us on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/SaveRockinghamsLittlePenguins

Yours for the Penguins
Dawn Jecks
Convenor, Save Rockinghams Little Penguins