 Maui's Dolphin
Hi, I’m going to talk about one of New Zealand’s endangered species Maui’s dolphin. Maui’s dolphin is a New Zealand’s special marine dolphin and they used to known as Hector’s Dolphin but some recent researches show that they are different from Hector’s Dolphin.
1. About Maui’s Dolphin
Maui’s Dolphin is the smallest species among all the dolphins. Females’ body are usually 1.7 m and weights are about 50 kilograms. Males are vaguely slighter. Maui’s dolphin has rounded dorsal fin, softly sloping long nose, white bellies, grey sides, short and looks strong body (stocky).
As you know,
Dolphins are marine mammals and like other mammals such as human.
They,
Feed their baby with milk, babies live on their mother's milk for up to a year, although they learn to eat fish and squid after about 6 months.
Are born like human
Have warm blood
Have four limbs
Are intelligent
Have efficient hearts
Breathe air by using lungs.
Maui’s dolphin has a life expectancy of around 20 years. Females give just one baby every two or four years and they cannot give baby until 7 to 9 years old. Consequently, Maui’s dolphin is a slow breeder. Young dolphins typically prefer to be close to their mother or another dolphin and in small groups. They can be seen under 20 metres depth and they don’t usually get away out of 20 miles from where they were born. Maui’s dolphin finds fish by making short dives. Diving times are around 90 seconds after 90 seconds they have to breath, because they breathe air like human. They can also find fish and squid in mid water and sometimes near the surface.
Maui’s dolphin uses their sonar system to find out the position of foods under the water. They can build up a picture in their mind by producing sonar clicks and they can find out what kind of food it.
2. Why special
Maui’s dolphin can just be seen on the West Coast of the North Island in the World and they are foremost part of New Zealand’s nature. Recent research indicates that there can be between 100 and 150 Maui’s dolphin live on the West Coast of the North. Maui’s dolphin is the smallest species among the entire dolphin. Maui’s dolphin is seriously in danger of extinction. It is feared that they may not be living anymore within 25 years.
3. Threats
Fishing net is main problem with Maui’s dolphin. They breathe by coming to the surface like all marine mammals and their lungs are the same size as humans. If they are trapped in fishing net they cannot come to the surface. Consequently, they become dead caused by not being able to breathe. Other risks to their life are to be hit by boat, to be tangled in sea litter and contamination.
4. How to protect them and what has been done for Maui’s dolphin?
Fisheries ministry has banned the setting nets from inshore waters of the Managua Bluff to Pariokariwa Point. There is no active fishing in order to protect Maui’s Dolphin.
We can protect them by
Banning from using net on west coast harbors,
Traveling at low speed on the sea where dolphins are known to live,
Not swimming with Maui’s dolphin or throwing food near them.
Taking all plastic rubbish to shore for safe disposal.
Reporting dead or stranded Maui’s dolphins immediately to DOC
(Departmant Of Conservation). |  Article Tools | | |
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