Maui's Dolphins, World's Smallest Dolphin Species, Almost Extinct At 55 Survivors

Conservationists have issued repeated warnings that the Maui's dolphins of New Zealand, the planet's smallest species of dolphin, are in danger of extinction. This month, they've estimated there are only about 55 surviving members left, according to an updated survey of the species' population.

The last time the Maui's dolphin population was surveyed was in 2005. At that time, there were 111 of the species left, according to the New Zealand Department of Conservation.

Experts say the population decline corresponds to a rise in commercial fishing.

"Every day the animals are exposed to gill and trawl nets carries a risk we can't afford. If ever there was a time to act, it is now," Dr. Barbara Maas, international head of the Nature and Biodiversity Union's International Species Conservation division," said in a statement.

Maas said that the Maui's dolphin population takes years to recover from a large drop in numbers because the species can't breed until they are 7 to 9-years-old and then only have one calf every 2-4 years. That doesn't bode well for a population increasingly bombarded by marine tourism, coastal development, pollution, oil spills and garbage.

In response the rapidly declining Maui's numbers, a team of scientists has proposed a "Declaration of Rights for Cetaceans" that they hope can be passed into law, the Daily Mail reports.

At the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s annual conference in Vancouver earlier this year, a coalition of experts in philosophy, conservation and animal behavior argued that dolphins and whales experiences similar levels of awareness and self-consciousness to humans and therefore deserve similar rights on an international level.

Whether or not that law passes, experts who spoke with the Daily Mail said that it's still possible for the Maui's population to recover if New Zealand bans nets over a larger area of the coastline and sets up a sanctuary, which the government has agreed to consider.

In the meantime, time is running for out for the critically endangered animals.

"We are staring down the barrel of extinction of this sub-species," marine biologist Dr. Rochelle Constantine told the New Zealand Daily Herald.

Watch the World Wildlife Foundation's report on the Maui dolphin below:

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Comments

[Artemesian]

03:32 PM on 03/24/2012

"Experts who spoke with the Daily Mail said that it's still possible for the Maui's population to recover if New Zealand bans nets over a larger area of the coastline and sets up a sanctuary, which the government has agreed to consider."

I'd say the less humans interfere the better off the rest of the creatures on the planet will be. Everything we touch we screw up. Petitioning the banning the gill and trawl nets is probably the most immediate option for recovery, and then creating a sanctuary. Of course we've devised a way to take more than our share of fish in the sea through these nets and the hell with anything else that lives there.

In the US, they're planning to destroy sea lions because of claims they are preying on the declining population of salmon, a population that we screwed up for years, a decline of 92%, because of the damming of rivers and weaker fish born in hatcheries. When in doubt, kill, I guess, is the go-to option of choice. They've also come up with birth control for some animals that we deem "overpopulated". Now if only we'd use it! :)

[lizzieboo]

04:53 AM on 04/17/2012

I only discovered today that the Maui Dolphin even existed. I am currently writing a series of childrens books dedicated to endangered animals and discovered the Maui Dolphin during my research. I was horrified to see how dramatically the numbers of these beautiful creatures have decreased in such a short time. I hope that my book will bring about a greater awareness of the critical condition they are in. I hope that it will not be too late by the time it is published so in the meantime get posting on your social network sites across the globe and get the New Zealand government to act NOW.

[Sunny White]

02:25 PM on 03/24/2012

Situations like this are the only time I would support places like SeaWorld. Captive breeding programs might be able to increase the population, although we have yet to figure out how to properly prepare them for successful reintegration into their natural habitat.

[tzuru]

02:05 PM on 03/24/2012

http://www.facebook.com/groups/hectorsandmauissos/ Please sign the petitions.

[DavidE0liver]

09:18 PM on 03/23/2012

"This is typical of people humans are very destructive and everything humanity touches turns to dust...."

[Miranda Jane Caird]

05:38 PM on 03/23/2012

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Save_The_Maui_Dolphin/?fb

Please sign this petition. The New Zealand Government is swade by public opinion. Let them know this situation is ruining your impression of a clean green tourist destination and food producing nation.

[Barbara Maas]

09:50 AM on 03/23/2012

Thank you for drawing attention to this sorry state of affairs. Unless the world takes note of the desperate plight of these animals, Maui's dolphins will become extinct. To find out more and out how you can help the last few survivors, please give them 5 minutes of your time today and visit www.hectorsdolphins.com . Without you they won't make it!

[Barbara Maas]

09:43 AM on 03/23/2012

Thank you for drawing attention to this sorry state of affairs. Unless the world takes note of this forgotten extinction crisis, Maui's dolphins will be lost to all of us. To find out more and how you can help the last few survivors please visit www.hectorsdolphins.com

[Zoe Helene]

08:45 AM on 03/23/2012

I will be expanding on this story. Working with Barbara at NABU and the lovely people at WWF NZ and reaching out to public figures also. There's nothing more than business and politics as usual killing these dolphins.

This the LAST CALL FOR THE MAUI DOLPHINS.

All NZ government says when forced to comment is state projected loss of fishing revenue---like they had a lobotomy or someone is holding a gun to their heads (which could actually be the case, as it turns out). Working to pressure hard from outside. Just gotten started but making progress. Please help us spread the word.

Most fish caught in Maui territory goes to markets within NZ so if you are visiting NZ do not eat fish and chips and TELL THEM why you won't. Don't eat fish anywhere while there -- and TELL THEM why you won't. SPEAK OUT. Tell every Kiwi you meet. Tell Air NZ folks too on the way there and on the way home. Tell them you are NOT HAPPY about this, that you find this COMPLETELY unacceptable. NZ is a small country and news will spread quickly.

And if you live in NZ -- pick up the phone today and tell your government you are REALLY PISSED OFF.

UP UNTIL NOW, this story has been mostly suppressed. Yes, that's right---suppressed. Well, not any more.

If you are media and interested please reach out. We need you. ([e-mail])

[doodlebug2]

08:40 AM on 03/23/2012

sad, all I can say, last week a story about rhinos, now this, ugh

[Jorgelzorro]

08:02 AM on 03/23/2012

By the time the new zeland government thinks about it they will be dead

[ProgressivePicon86]

04:53 AM on 03/23/2012

Sometimes I agree with what Agent Smith said in The Matrix, that humanity is a "disease, a cancer of this planet.". We destroy and ruin anything in our path in order to survive and keep our livelihood intact....does Earth have to burn asunder for us to get a clue that we are really fraking things up? We are eradicating a beautiful and unique species.......it just baffles the mind.

[lelaorca]

03:42 AM on 03/23/2012

Dolphin http://lelaorca.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html

[crparke]

12:28 AM on 03/23/2012

The power is YOURS!

[Daniel Wilcox]

11:56 PM on 03/22/2012

What a shame. We should try to save them by breeding them in captivity if possible. Why let them go extinct over our stupidity?

[psnyder325]

04:22 AM on 03/23/2012

It is the way of humans. We cannot seem to think into the future. Only what gives us money NOW and jobs, jobs, jobs, regardless of the cost to humanity or the earth. WE really deserve to go extinct.

[vakh]

04:45 AM on 03/23/2012

I think we should have a chat with killer whales and sharks
Since they see dolphins as lunch.

[Jim Milks]

05:39 AM on 03/23/2012

I think you should reread the article, as there is a plain statement within it that the decline in the Maui dolphin population corresponds with the rise in commercial fishing in their area.

[Barbara Maas]

10:04 AM on 03/23/2012

The NZ government's 2008 Draft Threat Management Plan on Hector's and Maui's dolphins clearly acknowledges that fishing with gill and trawl nets is the most significant threat to these animals. For more info: www.hectorsdolphin.com

[olitenup]

10:26 PM on 03/22/2012

What is worse is that these fishermen know they are sending this wonderful specie to their permanent demise and won't stop the practice. They are eco-terrorists.