Losing one of 14 mature female Maui dolphins puts the spotlight on dolphin protection Time to follow the advice of the International Whaling Commission and extend protection to 20 nautical miles offshore and south to Whanganui!
Net may have killed rare dolphin, expert says
radionz.co.nz
A marine mammal expert is casting doubt on a report that says a rare dolphin most likely died from blood poisoning.
So sad to lose two dolphins at once!
Dead dolphin believed to be rare Maui Dolphin
radionz.co.nz
A dolphin found washed up on a beach near Raglan is thought to be a rare Maui Dolphin.
Devastating!
There are 55 Maui dolphins left alive (down from more than a thousand in the 1970s). That means 28 or so females, of which about 14 will be of breeding age. We have just lost one, plus her calf.
It may never be known how she died. Only about 50% of the gillnet deaths can be diagnosed (from net cuts around the snout, flippers and tail). Trawl caught dolphins are almost impossible to diagnose. They usually just have diffuse bruising, that could have been caused in other ways.
Dead Māui's dolphin discovered to be pregnant
newshub.co.nz
It's a double blow for a species that doesn't reproduce often.
