Penguin Rehab & Release

05/09/2026

A small team of volunteers from Penguin Rehab and Release have just returned from the International Penguin Conference on Phillip Island — and we’re coming home more inspired, more informed, and more passionate than ever about the work we do.

The conference gave us an incredible opportunity to learn from leading penguin researchers, wildlife veterinarians and rehabilitation specialists working with penguins around the world.

While there was plenty of discussion about all the penguin species, there was naturally a strong focus on Little Penguins, with Phillip Island providing a pretty spectacular backdrop surrounded by thousands of them.

During all of the presentations from all of the experts one message came through again and again:

Penguins everywhere are in trouble.

Even populations that were once considered large and stable are experiencing significant declines. Overfishing, climate change and other environmental pressures are affecting penguins around the world.

And every time a penguin population is properly surveyed after years without a comprehensive count, the results are revealing just how much things have changed.

That is particularly concerning for us here in Tasmania.

Tasmania’s Little Penguin population hasn’t had a comprehensive population count in decades.

We don’t know exactly how many penguins we have left.

What we do know is that our local colonies have experienced a series of difficult breeding seasons.

And now they’re also facing bird flu.

That’s a lot of pressure on a species that already has enough challenges to contend with.

At Penguin Rehab and Release, we’ve always focused on helping the individual penguin in front of us. Every bird matters. Every successful rehabilitation and release matters.

But caring for large numbers of penguins also gives us something else: a window into what is happening to the wider population.

We see trends. We see changes. We notice when something doesn’t look right.

And after IPC 2026, we are more determined than ever to explore how we can use that knowledge to contribute to research, conservation and the long-term future of Tasmania’s Little Penguins.

We were also incredibly fortunate to be invited to tour the Phillip Island Nature Parks rehabilitation centre. Their team cares for Little Penguins as well as a wide range of other wildlife, and we had some fantastic conversations about rehabilitation challenges, penguin care and our respective HPAI biosecurity protocols.

It was incredibly reassuring to discover just how closely our own biosecurity practices align with rehabilitation facilities across Australia and around the world. Even more importantly, speaking with people who have already lived through HPAI outbreaks has given us valuable firsthand knowledge and reassurance about the importance — and effectiveness — of strong biosecurity.

One of the most valuable parts of the conference was connecting with rehabilitators from SANCOB working with African Penguins. Their experience with HPAI, which reached their region well before it arrived here, gave us the opportunity to learn firsthand about the challenges they faced, what they would do differently, and how effective biosecurity practices can be.

We came to IPC wanting to learn the latest evidence-based approaches to penguin health, behaviour, rehabilitation, and to build relationships with people doing this work around the world.
We’ve come home with all of that and so much more.

Most importantly, we’re bringing that knowledge back to Tasmania to benefit the penguins in our care.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to our conference fund and helped make this opportunity possible and also to Burnie City Council through their Environmental Grant 2024 to 2026.

Professional development opportunities like the International Penguin Conference are invaluable to our team, but ultimately, the goal is simple:
Help more penguins.

04/09/2026

If you haven't already signed our petition, please do so.
No financial contribution is necessary, but we do need your voice to help speak on behalf of our birds and all the other wildlife that is currently being failed by the Tasmanian government.

Test, Don’t Guess: Quarantine and Live HPAI Testing of Tasmania’s Seabirds

01/09/2026

We’ve seen your messages, your comments and your questions about HPAI, about Emerald, and about how we are going to keep the penguins in our care safe.

We’ve wanted to give you answers.

The honest truth is that we are still waiting for many of those answers ourselves.

For more than two years, we have been preparing for HPAI to reach Tasmania. We have been working hard to put the right biosecurity measures in place and trying to establish with the Department how wildlife rehabilitation can safely continue during an outbreak.

For the past two months, we have been asking some very basic questions which we urgently need answered.

And getting those answers has taken far longer, and required far more effort, than we believe it should.

Now HPAI is here.

We are in north-west Tasmania, in an area where positive cases are being detected, and this means these questions are no longer something we can plan for somewhere down the track. They are part of our everyday reality.

We know that one of the biggest concerns for our community is Emerald.

We know how much you care about her. We do too.

Everything we are doing is about giving Emerald, and every other penguin who comes into our care, the best possible chance of staying safe, recovering and eventually returning to the wild.

Our biosecurity protocols are firmly in place. They are designed to provide the highest possible level of protection for the penguins in our rehabilitation enclosure, where Emerald is currently being cared for.

But there is an important piece of the puzzle that we are still missing: testing.

We need to know whether penguins coming into care can be tested for HPAI while they are safely quarantined.

This is one of the very basic we have been asking the Department.

We are still waiting for clear answers.

We have even asked that, if the government is unwilling or unable to cover the cost of testing, we be allowed to arrange and pay for the testing ourselves.

And we know you.

We know that if funding became the obstacle, this community would rally around these penguins. We would find a way.

We are not asking for biosecurity rules to be relaxed. Quite the opposite.

We want to work within a robust system that allows us to protect the penguins properly. We have offered to work with the department, have our facility inspected and provide our HPAI biosecurity plan.

We have been trying to work through these issues privately and constructively for a long time.

Following the devastating outcome for Iphigenia, we raised detailed concerns with the Department, including the lack of a live-testing pathway that could have allowed her to remain safely quarantined while her disease status was established.

On 10 August, after receiving our latest detailed correspondence, Biosecurity Tasmania advised us that the Department needed additional time to consider the issues and provide an appropriate response.

We understood.

But we are now at the point where we simply cannot afford to keep waiting.

The Department has said it has been preparing for HPAI for years. We have been preparing too.

And after two years of planning and two months of urgently seeking answers to fundamental questions, we need those answers now.

We also want you to know that we will continue to keep you informed.

We know it can be frustrating when we don't have answers to give you. Please understand that our silence has never meant that we aren't asking the questions. We have been asking them — repeatedly.

We have been working behind the scenes because our priority has always been doing what is best for the penguins, and because we wanted to give the Department every opportunity to work with us constructively.

But HPAI is here.

And the penguins cannot wait.

We will continue doing everything we can to protect Emerald and the other penguins in our care.

We will continue asking the difficult questions.

We will continue pushing for the practical systems needed to keep them safe.

And we will continue to be honest with you about where things stand.

Thank you for caring about Emerald. Thank you for caring about every little penguin that comes through our doors. And thank you for standing beside us while we work through this.

We are incredibly grateful to have this community behind us.

We just want the same thing you do: to give these penguins every possible chance to survive, recover and return safely to the wild.

If you'd like to join us in asking the government to commit to live testing, please sign our petition: https://c.org/qQz9mgC7Bv

31/08/2026

.
Thank you to everyone who bought tickets to our raffle and helped us build up our bank account a little in preparation for what will no doubt be another expensive season. After selling raffle tickets for the past 2 months, both online and in person, we drew the raffle last week at the Penguin B**r Co. Bingo Night. Our winners have been contacted and given their prizes.

Thank you so much to our amazing sponsors for donating the raffle prizes. And congratulations to all our winners.

Prizes and winners (in no particular order):
Leven River Cruises - Ulverstone Tasmania Birdwatching cruise - 2 Tickets
Winner: Lee

$250 Voucher Lila's Tree Gallery, Stanley
Winner: G. Nolan

$100 Dining Voucher, The Cove Tasmania, Devonport
Winner: Hayley

$100 Accommodation Voucher, The Cove Tasmania, Devonport
Winner: Hilda

$150 Accommodation Voucher, The Cove Tasmania, Devonport
Winner: Dave

1 Night Stay at Horizon Deluxe Apartments, Stanley
Winner: Emma

Pennicott Wilderness Journeys - 2 Cruise Tickets
Winner: Crystal

The Julie Burgess - Tall Ship Experiences- 2 Tickets
Winner: Cat

27/08/2026

This morning, The Advocate reported a significant development in the story of the proposed $35 million hotel at Camdale.

Developer Errol Stewart has described the project as “dead in the water”, telling The Advocate that the penguin colony had become a much bigger issue than he expected and that concerns about the potential impact on the colony played a significant role in the decision not to pursue the project.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone in our community who helped make sure the penguins had a voice.

Thank you to every person who raised their voice for the penguins. Every email, phone call, share and show of support helped demonstrate just how much our community values these incredible little animals and the habitat they depend on.

We also want to make something very clear: we at Penguin Rehab and Release are not anti-development in principle, but the advise that Errol Stewart was initially given by his “experts” that the impact of the proposed development on the Camdale penguin colony could be managed was incorrect.

We understand that responsible development is an important part of our community's future. In fact, we would have been happy to see development considered at the alternative Cooee Point site, provided there was an appropriate management plan in place for the penguins.

The colony at Cooee Point is much smaller and less densely populated than the colony at Camdale, and we believe that with careful planning and appropriate safeguards, development there could potentially have been accommodated while still protecting the penguins.

We would also like to see the Camdale land returned to the hands of Burnie City Council, where we believe it should have remained in the first place.

We are very pleased to see that Burnie City Council is approaching the proposed sale of Cooee Point in a very different manner rather than the abrupt manner in which the Camdale land was sold, without public consultation or notice.

We believe decisions about significant public land should be made transparently, with the community given an opportunity to have its say.

Our position has never been about saying “no” to development. It has always been about where and how development happens.
We don't celebrate the loss of a development opportunity. We celebrate the protection of the penguins and the power of a community willing to stand up for them.

Thank you to everyone who stood with them.
Your voices mattered.

And whatever happens next, we hope this helps demonstrate that responsible development, transparent decision-making and wildlife protection can — and should — go hand in hand.

22/08/2026

Watch gorgeous Emerald swimming from a different perspective

19/08/2026

Don't forget that there is only 1 week left before our raffle is drawn, so its your last chance to get tickets. All proceeds go towards the care of the penguins in rehab. Its going to be a very expensive season, so we greatly appreciate everyone's generosity!

Join me in supporting Penguin Rehab & Release: https://go.eventgroovefundraising.com/penguinrehab

13/08/2026

We want to prepare our community for important changes that are necessary now Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in Tasmania.

Now HPAI is confirmed in Tasmania, Penguin Rehab & Release will need to operate under strict quarantine and biosecurity procedures to protect the penguins in our care, our volunteers, and the wider community.

These procedures are necessary, but they also take significantly more time, equipment and volunteer labour. Penguin Rehab & Release is entirely volunteer-run, and the additional time required for strict quarantine procedures will significantly increase the workload involved in caring for each bird.

As a result, we will not be able to care for as many birds as we normally would.

Under normal circumstances, we care for a range of seabird species that need rehabilitation, but once now HPAI is confirmed in Tasmania, we will only be able to accept penguins into care. We will not be able to take in other species of seabirds.

We will also need to place strict limits on the number of penguins entering rehabilitation.

This will be difficult for everyone.

There may be times when a seabird needs help but we simply do not have the capacity to care for it.

We ask for the community's patience, understanding and cooperation during this time. These decisions will never be made lightly.

Our priority will be to protect the birds already in our care and ensure that we can continue to provide them with the highest standard of care possible.

🐧Symptomatic Birds
What to do if you find a penguin showing signs of HPAI:
· A lack of coordination, tremors, swimming in circles
· Twisted neck or other abnormal posture
· Inability to stand
· Difficulty breathing, coughing or sneezing
· Swelling around the head, neck and eyes
· Cloudiness or change in colour of the eyes

Unfortunately, we cannot bring penguins showing symptoms consistent with HPAI into our rehabilitation facility. Doing so could put every other penguin in our care at risk.

For a penguin showing signs of HPAI, remaining in the wild may provide its best opportunity for recovery. While this can be extremely distressing to witness, some birds do survive HPAI infection, and allowing them to remain in their natural environment gives them the opportunity to recover.

If you come across a penguin that is showing symptoms consistent with HPAI, please remember: AVOID — RECORD — REPORT

AVOID
Do not approach, touch, catch or move the bird. Keep yourself, children and pets away from the bird and avoid disturbing it.

RECORD
From a safe distance, take photos or video if you can do so without approaching the bird. Note the location, date and time, and anything you observe about the bird's condition or behaviour.

REPORT
Emergency Animal Disease Hotline - 1800 675 888
Report the sighting to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline and follow their advice. Please provide the location, photos or video if requested, and details of what you have observed.
We understand that it can be incredibly difficult to see a sick penguin and not intervene. However, keeping your distance is one of the most important things you can do to protect the bird, other penguins and yourself.

🐧Penguins not showing HPAI symptoms:

What should you do if you find a penguin requiring help that is not showing symptoms of HPAI?
Phone Penguin Rehab & Release – 0437 565 672

If you contact us about a potential rescue, please be patient with us as we ask you a number of additional questions about the situation and the birds symptoms. Please provide as precise a location as possible, so that our volunteers can reach the bird without delay.
Observe the bird from a distance and please do not move or handle it unless instructed to do so.

Please understand that our response may take longer than usual because every rescue must be carefully managed to prevent contamination and protect the birds already in care.

Our rescue and transport volunteers will need time to gather the required PPE and equipment and travel to the location. We will need members of the public to stay and observe the penguin from a safe distance while our trained volunteers get kitted up and make their way to you. Your help in keeping the penguin in sight can make a huge difference. Our rescue team is entirely volunteer-run, with limited people available to respond, so knowing exactly where the bird is located is essential. We won’t be able to attend rescues if we do not have someone keeping track of the bird. Even very unwell birds will instinctively hide and we will not be able to find them when we arrive if someone is not keeping track of them.

As we are based in Burnie it may take considerable time for our rescue team to reach areas further along the coast.
We know it is incredibly hard to see an animal in distress and be asked to wait. We also know that our community cares deeply about our seabirds and penguins and we are incredibly grateful for that.

Caring for penguins during a HPAI outbreak means doing things differently. Your patience, cooperation and understanding will help our volunteers continue caring for as many birds as we safely can.

09/08/2026

Emerald in the pool.

Perhaps our favourite part of Emerald's rehabilitation is the way she chooses to end her swim sessions.
Rather than us deciding when she's finished, Emerald simply lets us know. When she's had enough, she'll swim over to her carer's waiting hands and gently allow herself to be lifted straight out of the pool.
Sometimes, as she begins to feel a little unbalanced, she'll head towards her carer, regain her balance on the way, then decide she's actually ready for another lap after all. This can lead to several adorable "swim-bys" before she finally glides gracefully into her carer's hands to signal that she's finished for the day.

08/08/2026

Here at Penguin Rehab & Release we’ve been dealing with the aftermath of a very traumatic case. We are devastated and filled with anger at the completely unnecessary ending of what we consider to be a precious life, well worth the effort of saving.

On 27 June, a Little Penguin was brought into the care of Penguin Rehab & Release after being found at Godfrey's Beach, Stanley.
While she was in our care, she was known only by her case number: WS26P1.

After her loss, we found it difficult to keep talking about "WS26P1" as we tried to process what had happened. During our volunteer debriefings, we gave her the name Iphigenia.

In Greek mythology, Iphigenia was offered as a sacrifice for what others believed was the greater good. This reflected how this penguin's loss felt to those who had cared for her. She had become much more than a case number. She was an individual whose recovery we believed was achievable, and whose life mattered deeply to everyone who met her.

When Iphigenia arrived, she showed all the signs of a traumatic brain injury caused by head trauma. Although she could not see, temporary vision loss is a well-recognised consequence of head injuries in Little Penguins and often quickly improves as the swelling subsides. She was otherwise in excellent body condition, had clearly been feeding recently, and showed no clinical signs of infectious disease.

Over the years, Penguin Rehab & Release has cared for many penguins with traumatic brain injuries. While these injuries can look very serious, the vast majority recover with appropriate care and are successfully returned to the wild. Based on Iphigenia's clinical signs, her progress, and x-rays confirming there were no skull fractures or other injuries that would prevent rehabilitation, we believe she had an excellent chance of making a full recovery.

Despite this, the authorities determined that Iphigenia should be euthanased because of the possibility that she represented a risk for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). In our view, this was an extremely remote possibility.

The authorities also raised concerns that Iphigenia may have had chlamydiosis, an infectious disease known to occur in penguins. This diagnosis was made purely on the basis of photographs. The eye discharge that raised this concern was, in our experience, consistent with the swelling caused by her head injury. Throughout her time in care, Iphigenia showed no clinical signs consistent with either chlamydiosis or HPAI.

Despite this, the decision was made that she must be euthanased.

We were given no choice.

We were advised that testing live birds was not an available option in Tasmania, despite this approach being used in other states. We believe that quarantining Iphigenia and testing her would have protected biosecurity while also giving her the opportunity to survive.

After she was euthanased, Iphigenia tested negative for both HPAI and chlamydiosis. As we were completely certain she would.

Penguin Rehab & Release fully supports strong biosecurity measures and understands how important it is to keep HPAI out of Tasmania for as long as possible. We had already established quarantine facilities and were prepared to keep Iphigenia in strict isolation while testing was carried out.

We also believe it is important that disease risk is considered in the context of a species' biology and ecology. Little Penguins are short-ranging seabirds that generally forage close to their breeding colonies. Until HPAI becomes established locally, they are far less likely to be the species that first introduces the virus into a new region than highly mobile seabirds such as Southern Giant Petrels or Skuas, which travel enormous distances across the Southern Ocean.

A matter of days before HPAI was detected on mainland Australia, Penguin Rehab & Release sought advice from the Department when we were given notice that a Southern Giant Petrel was being driven to Burnie to come into care. Given the species' extensive movements and scavenging behaviour, we considered it a genuine HPAI risk. We were advised to continue with our normal biosecurity procedures, but we voluntarily implemented enhanced protocols including strict quarantine and full PPE to protect ourselves and the penguins already in our care.

Once the bird arrived and was assessed, its clinical signs were not considered suggestive of HPAI, and it later tested negative for the virus.

That experience makes Iphigenia's case particularly difficult to understand. We absolutely support taking every reasonable precaution against HPAI, but we believe that, in her case, quarantine and testing would have been a more proportionate response than immediate euthanasia.

We believe life-and-death decisions should be guided not only by disease risk, but also by species biology, clinical presentation, rehabilitation prognosis, and the knowledge of the people who work with these animals every day. The best outcomes for wildlife will always come from balancing these different areas of expertise.

Iphigenia's loss has had a profound impact on our volunteers. Wildlife rehabilitation is built on hope—the hope that injured animals can recover and be returned to the wild where they belong. In this case, we believe that hope was taken away before rehabilitation had the chance to succeed.

As Tasmania prepares for the very real threat posed by HPAI, Penguin Rehab & Release remains committed to working alongside government agencies to protect our wildlife, but we do not want what happened to Iphigenia be how rehabilitation cases are managed in the future. We have been and are continuing to engage in correspondence with the authorities in the hope that future cases can be managed in a way that protects Tasmania's biosecurity while also giving wildlife the opportunity to be rehabilitated and survive.

Rest easy, Iphigenia.

You mattered, and you deserved your second chance at life. We are so sorry we couldn’t give it to you.