A shy and rare penguin has been crowned the winner of New Zealand’s Bird of the Year contest, raising awareness about its conservation needs amid threats from invasive species and diseases. After last year’s controversial result—in which comedian John Oliver spearheaded a campaign to crown the pūteketeke as champion—this year’s contest was

The hoiho or yellow-eyed penguin won New Zealand's annual Bird of the Year vote, after a fierce contest without the foreign interference and controversies that have upset the country's avian elections before.

The yellow-eyed penguin, or hoiho, has been crowned New Zealand's Bird of the Year for 2024, securing 6,328 votes for its second win in the popular annual competition. The hoiho, considered the world's rarest penguin species by competition organisers Forest and Bird,