On 18 February 2024 a walk at the south end of Waikawa Beach brought a sad sight: one or more heavy vehicles had been on the beach doing 'donuts'. Round and round they'd gone, creating roughly ploughed up ridges and pits of sand.
![Wide shot of donuts created on the sand.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2024/donuts.jpeg)
But wait, what's that white blob over on the left, encircled by the donuts?
It's a native, declining Kororā | Little blue penguin, that's what. It looks in great condition, except that it's dead.
![Plump white penguin, belly-up on the sand.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2024/penguin-in-donut.jpeg)
Which came first, the donuts or the penguin? Who knows. But honestly, the beach is not a vehicle play space. It's a place where wildlife lives and rests. It's hardly a coincidence that this dead penguin is encircled by donuts.
![Close up of the dead penguin.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2024/dead-penguin.jpeg)