News has reached us regarding the death of a Māui dolphin on the North Island, New Zealand – making this the third Māui’s dolphin death to be reported to the Department of Conservation this year.
Māui’s dolphins are critically endangered and only found on the west coast of the North Island. The total population is fewer than 100 animals, therefore this latest death is a tragic loss.
It is thought the juvenile dolphin had been on the beach for some time and was badly decomposed, therefore it is unlikely that a necropsy will be able to determine the cause of death. The dolphin will, however, be sent to Massey University to be examined as with the population in such low numbers, there’s not a moment to spare in the preservation of this endangered species and its habitat.
