Yellow-eyed penguin
By Dave Goosselink
Like captain Richie McCaw, All Black number eight Kieran Reid won't be at the royal wedding, but he's still keen to show he's got a sensitive side.
Read is working to raise awareness of the cute but endangered yellow-eyed penguin, following in the conservationist footsteps of former All Black Anton Oliver.
Otago Peninsula is his new favourite spot. He's tackling a new challenge as ambassador for the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust, which works to help protect and preserve the endangered birds.
"It's an awesome part of the world when you come out here and see the coastline, and what the trust has achieved by planting all the trees, so just a pretty awesome experience," he says.
He's been helping with the trust's habitat restoration work, replanting native trees which provide shelter for the birds.
Yellow-eyed penguins - or hoiho - are notoriously shy creatures, and like to nest in secluded areas.
But Read's been able to get closer than most.
"I've been down and had a look when they were actually tagging the young chicks, so it was a pretty awesome experience to be able to get close."
It's quite a different world from the rugby field, but Read's following in the footsteps of another rugby environmentalist, Anton Oliver, who's patron of the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust.
"Because people are watching the likes of Kieran and Anton for all sorts of reasons, and so if they can help spread that message people are instantly going to listen to them, and yeah it definitely helps," says the trust's Sue Murray.
The trust has reported an "above average" breeding season for the penguins in Otago. But a lot of work's needed to ensure their long-term survival, and Murray's keen to spread the message to those further north.
"I think the penguins themselves are a national tourism attraction, and internationally known as well," says Ms Murray.
"Everyone hopefully will know how special these little guys are, and can hopefully work to look after them in the future," says Read.
These threatened native seabirds now enjoying the support of one of the big guys of rugby.
3 News
Source
Video here
Like captain Richie McCaw, All Black number eight Kieran Reid won't be at the royal wedding, but he's still keen to show he's got a sensitive side.
Read is working to raise awareness of the cute but endangered yellow-eyed penguin, following in the conservationist footsteps of former All Black Anton Oliver.
Otago Peninsula is his new favourite spot. He's tackling a new challenge as ambassador for the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust, which works to help protect and preserve the endangered birds.
"It's an awesome part of the world when you come out here and see the coastline, and what the trust has achieved by planting all the trees, so just a pretty awesome experience," he says.
He's been helping with the trust's habitat restoration work, replanting native trees which provide shelter for the birds.
Yellow-eyed penguins - or hoiho - are notoriously shy creatures, and like to nest in secluded areas.
But Read's been able to get closer than most.
"I've been down and had a look when they were actually tagging the young chicks, so it was a pretty awesome experience to be able to get close."
It's quite a different world from the rugby field, but Read's following in the footsteps of another rugby environmentalist, Anton Oliver, who's patron of the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust.
"Because people are watching the likes of Kieran and Anton for all sorts of reasons, and so if they can help spread that message people are instantly going to listen to them, and yeah it definitely helps," says the trust's Sue Murray.
The trust has reported an "above average" breeding season for the penguins in Otago. But a lot of work's needed to ensure their long-term survival, and Murray's keen to spread the message to those further north.
"I think the penguins themselves are a national tourism attraction, and internationally known as well," says Ms Murray.
"Everyone hopefully will know how special these little guys are, and can hopefully work to look after them in the future," says Read.
These threatened native seabirds now enjoying the support of one of the big guys of rugby.
3 News
Source
Video here
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