Found Only In New Zealand

The Southeast coast of the South Island of New Zealand is one of the few places where this rare penguin lives. Here a dwindling population of fewer than 900 yellow-eyed penguins is struggling for survival, due to loss of habitat and predation. Other breeding areas are located among the coastal forest margins of Stewart Island and offshore islets. In New Zealand's sub-antarctic region the penguin lives on the Auckland and Campbell Islands. The yellow-eyed penguin population on these offshore breeding areas is threatened by predation and the impacts of feral livestock.

The Campbell Island, Auckland Island and South Island populations are separate genetically and each needs at least 500 breeding pairs to survive.