Perth’s beloved Penguin Island will be closed or partially closed once the island hits 35 degrees. The winter seasonal closure will also be extended by four weeks. 

Reece Whitby, Environmental Minister told Oliver Peterson on Perth Live that the main reason for the closure is due to WA’s changing climate which continues to make the penguins vulnerable.

“We’ve had more frequent adverse weather events, a few years ago we had a serious marine heat wave which drove away the Whitebait, causing the population of little penguins to rapidly decline,” he told Oly.

“It’s a very fragile declining population, so we need to do everything we can to protect those penguins on the Island.”

Guided tours have been suggested as a solution in order to ensure visitors stay in the correct areas and do not disturb any penguins who could potentially be nesting.

Press PLAY to hear the full update on Penguin Island