Algal bloom not cause of penguin deaths

Red algal bloom is not to blame for the deaths of scores of little blue penguins along the North Island's west coast, the Department of Conservation (DOC) says.

Dead or dying penguins were found washed up on beaches from Taranaki to Port Waikato last week and the bloom of harmful red fungus was thought to be responsible.

Taranaki DOC staff sent water samples and two frozen penguins to Nelson's Cawthron Institute after finding the dead birds.

Two other penguins were sent to Massey University in Palmerston North for autopsy.

DOC marine supervisor Bryan Williams said he received an email from the institute yesterday saying red algae could not be the cause of death.

The algae was a non-toxic species, "so they believe it has had no effect on the little blues", he told the Taranaki Daily News.

Mr Williams said the cause of death was now "more than likely starvation" despite a plentiful supply of food in the area.

Many of the dead Taranaki birds were found in better shape than those in Waikato, which were emaciated and had a vile brown substance in their stomachs.

The results of the Massey autopsy were expected in the next few days.

- NZPA