Penguin Island Open Hours: Discovery Centre: 1030am, 1230pm, 230pm 50 km south of Perth Perth 6169 Australia Telephone: 61 8 9592 5191 Web: www.calm.wa.gov.au/tourism/penguin_island.html If it is a clean
environment you are looking for with real life conservation efforts at work, you will find it on
Penguin Island. This is an island with an area of approximately 12.5 hectares and just 700 odd meters away from the mainland. The island is home to more than 15 different bird
species for which this is a
breeding site as well. Besides the
holiday seaside facilities of fine surfing and fantastic snorkeling conditions the island provides the holiday crowd with walking tracks, viewing sites and an organized Discovery Centre. There is a
ferry which operates to and from the island and Shoalwater. The ferry charges include a visit to the Discovery Centre. You can see little
penguins in the Centre and you might actually stumble on to seals on the beach! The island is closed between the beginning of June till around the middle of September each year to safeguard the penguin breeding period. This is a very rare place where under controlled and protected conditions one can see more than a thousand baby penguins playing around in their near natural environment. The white-flippered little penguin or blue penguin is technically known as Eudyptula minor. Though as yet the species is not yet on the endangered list, there is a threat mainly from predators of the variety of dogs, foxes and the like. Among the various places in the world where these penguins are being bred, this island is the major one. Threats are also from plastic pollution and oil spills. The effort of this Centre is commendable and worth viewing. A trip to this island is bound to leave a lasting impression.
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