Summary
Gabo Island once supported Victoria’s largest Little Penguin colony, with up to 21,000 breeding pairs. Recent evidence suggests numbers are in steep decline, and the colony is now on the verge of collapse. Penguins on Gabo rely heavily on the East Gippsland Marine Reserve for food, but their breeding success is being undermined by invasive weeds, rodents, and habitat degradation. Without urgent intervention, this population could be lost.
This project provides a rapid first response to halt the decline, while building the long-term knowledge and partnerships required to secure the colony’s future.
Project Strategy
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Conduct nest surveys to record breeding behaviour, success rates, and threats.
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Install artificial nest boxes as interim nesting sites while invasive kikuyu grass is brought under control.
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Trial targeted rodent control to reduce predation on eggs and chicks.
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Map weeds and undertake on-ground control, with a focus on Mirror Bush and kikuyu infestations.
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Train TSC ecologists in penguin handling and microchipping, shadowing Phillip Island Nature Parks staff.
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Replicate Phillip Island nest monitoring protocols to generate comparable data and feed findings into broader penguin research.
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Investigate long-term strategies, including island-wide rodent eradication and ongoing weed management.
Key Achievements (expected)
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Establishment of standardised penguin monitoring on Gabo Island.
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Immediate protection of nesting sites through artificial burrows and weed management.
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Data shared with Phillip Island Nature Parks to inform state-wide recovery efforts.
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Development of a threat mitigation strategy and peer-reviewed publication.
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Engagement of Friends of Mallacoota volunteers in annual weeding programs.
Partners
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Threatened Species Conservancy (TSC) – Project leadership and delivery
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Parks Victoria – Land management support and in-kind accommodation
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Phillip Island Nature Parks (PINP) – Training, ethics oversight, research collaboration
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Friends of Mallacoota – On-ground weeding and volunteer mobilisation
Conservation Status
Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor): Declining at Gabo Island; population of state significance
Costs
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Estimated Cost: $452,980 over 2 years
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Funding Received: $0
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In-kind Contributions: $130,680 (volunteers, training, ethics, and support from partners)
