The yellow-eyed penguin, also known as the hoiho, has been named New Zealand's Bird of the Year for 2024, garnering 6,328 votes to secure its second victory in the highly anticipated annual contest. Organized by Forest and Bird, the competition recognizes the hoiho as the world's rarest penguin species. In this year's competition, the hoiho outpaced the Chatham Island black robin and the kakapo, receiving substantial public support during the final week of the contest.
Compared to last year's event, which saw a surge in participation due to a televised campaign by American-British comedian John Oliver supporting the puteketeke, this year's competition was relatively subdued. Oliver's campaign in 2023 attracted voters from 195 countries, leading to a record number of participants and temporarily crashing the website's verification system.
Native to New Zealand, the hoiho has an estimated population of between 4,000 to 5,000 individuals. Despite its Maori name meaning 'noise shouter,' the species is characterized by its elusive nature and distinctive odor. This marks the second time the hoiho has won the title, having previously claimed the honor in 2019.
Forest and Bird CEO Nicola Toki highlighted the critical state of the species, stating, 'We've lost 78 per cent of their mainland population in just 15 years due to predators and climate change.' The competition this year saw nearly 52,500 votes cast, reflecting the strong connection New Zealanders have with their native birds. However, this number was significantly lower than the more than 350,000 votes received last year, largely due to Oliver's global appeal.
'It's great to see us clicking into our national identity,' Toki remarked. New Zealand, historically with few land-based predators, boasts a diverse array of flightless birds, including penguins, takahe, and the iconic kiwi.
