Posted: 14th November 2016
Underpass built for blue penguins
Blue penguins are the world's smallest penguin, standing at approximately 30cm tall.
Tunnel helps New Zealand penguins avoid cars and tourists
A colony of little blue penguins in New Zealand now have their own private underpass to protect them from traffic and tourists.
Blue penguins are the world's smallest penguin, standing at approximately 30cm tall and weighing just 1kg. They breed on the coastal mainland and islands of New Zealand and southern Australia.
The blue penguin colony in the South Island town of Oamaru, previously had to cross a busy road to commute between their nests and the sea, putting them at risk from cars and inquisitive tourists.
According to media reports, construction of the tunnel was completed in September and was supported by the local district council, tourism body and private businesses.
Little blue penguins enjoying their new tunnel © Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony:
Image by: JJ Harrison (jjharrison89@facebook.com)/Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 3.0