MAKUTU

• Megadyptes antipodes sapiens

• Committed to recovering her habitat lost to livestock, and deforestation Makutu usually works with her comrades in the IWG to protect the remaining nesting grounds.

  • With only about 1500 breeding pairs left in the world, the Yellow Eyed Penguin is the rarest of all penguin species.  The yellow-eyed penguin evolved in the cool coastal forests of New Zealand where it had no natural enemies. With the arrival of the first humans came Kiore (Polynesian rat), dogs, and later the Norwegian ship rats, cats, cattle and sheep. The coastal forest that was home to the yellow eyed penguin was burnt down or cut to clear the land for farming cattle and sheep.  In a few hundred years these invasive species and human occupation took a great toll on the well being of this penguin species.

• Because her mobility is best in the water, Makutu provides expert offensive and defensive seaborne combat support to her IWG comrades who are committed to the land and shore aspect of combat operations.  Makutu is deadly with her torpedoes which she launches off her back.  Able to swiftly and covertly maneuver in and out of the shipping lanes, her combat support role is to target enemy boats and prevent them from landing human support troops and supplies from engaging her land combat comrades.  She often works with Desmond, Moly and Odysseus in waterborne operations.  She loves working on her nests whenever possible and has become great friends with Irra who she often shares home decorating tips and ideas.  Often paying the "straight man", she will work in cahoots with Desmond to play practical jokes on the other IWG team members.  She has a great squawky laugh which can't help but crack up her comrades.

• Get the Makutu Designer Vinyl Toy!