Northern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes moseleyi)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 0925671

The Tristan Conservation Department aims to protect and enhance the conservation interests of all species found in the Tristan Da Cunha archipelago and within the 200nm Tristan Economic Exclusion Zone for the benefit of its people and wildlife. Until 2009 conservation issues were managed under the Tristan Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, the first Conservation Officer was appointed in 2006. Tristan Conservation Department was formed in February 2009 in order to focus more specifically on conservation issues, to develop objectives and formalise working structures. The objectives are currently being developed. The Tristan Da Cunha archipelago is located in the central South Atlantic Ocean approximately midway between South Africa and South America. The archipelago comprises four main islands including Tristan Da Cunha Island (9600ha) with Inaccessible Island (1400ha) and Nightingale Island (390ha) approximately 32km from Tristan and c20km apart. Gough Island (6500ha) lies 350km to the South South-East. All four islands are designated Important Bird Areas (IBA), the northern islands are an Endemic Bird Area (EBA) and Gough Island a separate Endemic Bird Area. Gough and Inaccessible are World Heritage Sites and are currently being considered as wetlands of international importance under the RAMSAR Convention The archipelago is home to twelve globally threatened bird species, seven endemic land-bird species and five endemic seabird species. Monitoring of Northern Rockhopper Penguins Eudyptes moseleyi began in 1992 and continues to be one of the key target species along with Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos . Tristan Conservation Department assists other international organisations working on Tristan Albatross Diomedia dabbenena, Spectacled Petrel Procellaria conspicillata and Atlantic Petrel Pteradroma incerta. Alien invasive species are also key to the department’s work most specifically the eradication of Procumbent Pearlwort Sagina procumbens from Gough Island and has also included the eradication of New Zealand Flax Phormium tenax from Nightingale and Inaccessible. Preparations are about to begin to eradicate House Mouse Mus musculus from Gough Island where it has been demonstrated to be the main factor limiting the productivity of the critically endangered Tristan Albatross and Endangered Atlantic Petrel. In the longer term it is hoped to eradicate Black Rat Rattus rattus and House Mouse from Tristan main island in order to re-instate the once enormous populations of breeding seabirds.