By Raiha

Maui’s Dolphin is the smallest dolphin in the world and is also known as the North Island Hectors Dolphin. They have distinctive grey, black and white markings, as well as a black, rounded dorsal fin. Females can grow up to 1.7 meters and and weigh up to 50kgs. Males are slightly smaller and lighter. This dolphin can live up to 20 years. They are also discovered to be a sub species of the Hectors Dolphin!!

FORAGING: Maui’s Dolphin often use echolocation to find their prey. They send out high frequency ‘clicks’ that bounce off surrounding objects and fish, giving them a detailed picture of their surroundings. They also spend much of their time making dives to find fish on the sea floor. They also find fish in mid-water and at times feed near the surface. DIET: Maui’s dolphin has a diet of: FFish SSquid They also eat ocean floor dwelling species such as : Flatfish Cod

Maui’s Dolphin is found off the west coast of the North Island in New Zealand. They live between Dargaville and New Plymouth. Maui’s Dolphin live in small pods of 1 to 5 dolphins, 5 nautical miles off the coast. During summer they seem to venture closer to the shore and are mostly seen within 1 nautical mile of the coast. It is thought that individuals remain within the same 60km stretch of coast their whole lives.

Like other small dolphins, Maui's dolphins have a low reproductive rate - they breed just fast enough to replace the number of dolphins that die naturally. This slow birth rate means that Maui's dolphins are struggling to recover from human caused deaths. Maui's dolphins do not pair for life but mate frequently. Females give birth to a single calf every 2 to 4 years, which is born with dorsal fins partly folded over and with fold marks along the bodies. The calf is large ( cm) in proportion to its mother (only m). One female might have four calves in her 20 year life span.

Maui’s Dolphin is listed as critically endangered by IUCN ( International Union for Conservation of Nature)  NYLON NETS  SET NETS AND TRAWL FISHING  MARINE POLLUTION/ DEBRIS  BOAT STRIKES There are said to be only 100 individuals left!!!!

HOW YOU CAN HELP: You can help save this precious dolphin by: Supporting online petitions Supporting online petitions Joining beach cleanups or simply picking up any rubbish found on the beach Joining beach cleanups or simply picking up any rubbish found on the beach Adopt a Maui –by yourself or with your class. Adopt a Maui –by yourself or with your class. Write a letter or to the people responsible for protecting Maui’s dolphins. Let them know how important it is that they protect the dolphins. Write a letter or to the people responsible for protecting Maui’s dolphins. Let them know how important it is that they protect the dolphins.