Royal Penguins breed only on Macquarie Island, Australia, both on the coast and up to 1.5 km inland, and on Bishop and Clerk Islands 37 km to the south (Hindell et al. 1995). When breeding, they forage as far south as the South Polar Front and may go farther during the non-breeding season (Hull et al. 1997, Hull 1999). They have appeared as vagrants in Argentina, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.

Conservation and Research Actions Underway
Studies of foraging ecology and breeding biology have been completed. Monitoring of breeding population size and success is ongoing, including a planned population survey in 2016/2017. Feral cats were eradicated from Macquarie Island in 2001, and rodents and rabbits were eradicated in 2014 as a result of the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project (Parks and Wildlife Service 2014). Tourists on breeding islands are managed to prevent disturbance.

Conservation and Research Actions Proposed
Continue to monitor the population trend at selected sites. As Royal Penguins breed only at Macquarie Island, biosecurity must be maintained to prevent return of introduced predators, and the marine reserve must be maintained to ensure long-term conservation. Monitor rates and effects of marine debris ingestion. Monitor the effects of fishing. Establish demographic parameters, particularly survival of different age classes. Investigate the basis of genetic differentiation between Macaroni Penguins and Royal Penguins. Study the potential impacts of climate change. Implement a biosecurity plan for Macquarie Island (Parks and Wildlife Service 2014).