Noisy, smelly yellow-eyed penguin wins New Zealand’s bird of the year

The hoiho, or yellow-eyed penguin, won the country’s fiercely fought avian election on Monday, offering hope to supporters of the endangered bird that recognition from its victory might prompt a revival of the species.

It followed a campaign for the annual Bird of the Year vote that was absent the foreign interference scandals and cheating controversies of past polls. Instead, campaigners in the long-running contest sought votes in the usual ways – launching meme wars, seeking celebrity endorsements and even getting tattoos to prove their loyalty.

This year, the number of votes cast represented 10 per cent of the population of New Zealand – a country where nature is never far away and where a love of native birds is instilled in citizens from childhood.