Help spot world’s rarest dolphin this summer– Māui's dolphin

Help spot world’s rarest dolphin this summer– Māui's dolphin

14 December 2015

Surfies, boaties, and beach-goers are asked to spot world’s rarest dolphin.

Māui's dolphin are found off the west coast of North Island in New Zealand are the rarest in the world. They’re found between the Whanganui River mouth in the South and Dargaville in the North putting them in perfect range of the surfing highway.

Conservationists are asking for sightings of Māui's dolphin to help determine the distribution of Māuis dolphins and if possible to allow DOC to collect a DNA sample. Scientists can use a method called DNA fingerprinting in order to distinguish individuals. This way, they may be able to tell if this dolphin has been sighted in the past, improving our knowledge of movement patterns.

DOC keeps a database of all Māui’s dolphin sightings from 1970 to present, and this is available for download by the public.

Māui's dolphins are generally found close to shore in the warmer summer month in groups or pods of several dolphins. They can be seen in water shallower than 20 m, including river mouths, estuaries, harbours and shallow bays, but are also known to range offshore up to 12 nautical miles.

The easiest way to identify the Māui's dolphin is to look for its distinctive rounded “mickey mouse-type” rounded dorsal fin. Their bodies have distinctive grey, white, and black markings and a short snout. The sightings are put on the DOC database and used to help protect these dolphins from deadly fishing gear like set nets and trawling which can kill them.

If you think you’ve spotted a Māui's dolphin call 0800 DOC HOT and if possible take a photo. You can also download the WWF NZ mobile app for a smartphone to report a Māui's dolphins. On sighting the dolphin/s record:
• location
• a GPS coordinate if possible
• take a photograph/video (many mobile phones have a camera/video recorder built into them – on smartphones, you can also go into your camera's settings and turn on geotagging of photos)
• note down any landmarks, and include them in the photos if possible
• number of dolphins
• date and time of sighting
Where possible, remain in the vicinity of the dolphin/s (but do not chase or harass them). Keep speed to a minimum and avoid sudden changes in direction. If possible DOC staff may attempt to make radio or phone contact with you. On arrival, DOC staff may attempt to take a genetic sample.

ENDS

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