A roaming cat or dog is thought to be responsible for killing at least eight kororā that have washed up dead in a Napier suburb in the past two weeks.
The kororā, or little penguins, were found along Ahuriri's Hardinge Rd and in the inner harbour area.
A statement from a Napier City Council spokesperson said post-mortem examinations had suggested predators may have been responsible, in some cases possibly a seal, but most likely a dog or cat.
Kororā are listed as "at risk" by the Department of Conservation.