Rockingham community to march for little penguins

Over 100 people are expected to attend a rally in Rockingham on Sunday, pleading with the State Government to do something to save the declining penguin population on Penguin Island.

It comes after a new report revealed the penguin population had again plummeted.

The population census conducted by UWA scientist Belinda Cannell in November 2023 showed there was only 114 little penguins on the island, down from around 300 in 2019.

In 2007 there was estimated to be between 1600 and 2000 little penguins on Penguin Island.

Convenor of the Save Rockingham’s Little Penguins campaign Dawn Jecks said time is running out for the penguin colony and public pressure is needed.

“This is an emergency, and yet the WA environment minister Reece Whitby is not doing anything about it," Convenor of the Save Rockingham’s Little Penguins campaign Dawn Jecks said.

“The local community are enraged. They love these penguins – the emblem of our city – and they will be gathering to tell the minister, the local MP Magenta Marshall and the federal resources minister and local federal MP Madeleine King, to get on with the job of saving these penguins.

“It is dire, but it is not too late for this population. We need to intervene with a robust conservation action plan, led by scientists to help kick start recovery. Little penguins are resilient, and we will be raising our voices for them.”

The rally will start at the Churchill Park lookout at 11am on Sunday, June 9 before rally goers will march to the offices of Minister King, and Ms Marshall ending at the beach front café strip.