Our fragile planet contains many rare species which are threatened or endangered by our manipulation of the circle of life. The latest victim in a series of species threatened to near extinction is the Maui’s Dolphin. Most conservation experts are calling for drastic measures to be taken In order to ensure the rare species does not go extinct. Currently only about 50 of these dolphins exist in the wild making them a critically endangered species.
The Main Threat to the Maui’s Rare Species of Dolphin
The Maui’s dolphins are only found off the coast of New Zealand, only live in shallow water, and their primary killer is large fishing nets as well as other man made devices. These marine mammals get tangled in the fishing nets, and aren’t able to surface to breath so they suffocate under water. Efforts have been made in the past to restore the species to a larger population, but not enough was done. Hundreds of experts have gathered for the annual International Whaling Commission meeting, and conservation efforts for the at-risk dolphins will be discussed.
Dr. Barbara Maas discusses the significance of the data regarding the remaining Maui’s Dolphins, “These new figures are a loud wakeup call: New Zealand has to abandon its current stance which places the interest of the fishing industry biodiversity conservation, and finally protect the Dolphins’ habitat from harmful fishing nets, seismic air-gun blasts, and oil and gas extraction.” She believes that if direct intervention is not made immediately, it is inevitable that the species will become extinct.
While there have been regulations enforced by the New Zealand government, nothing that they have done so far has been enough to restore the Maui’s Dolphin population to what it was since its decline due to an increase in fishing in the region. In fact there has been a drop in population since 2011 when there were approximately 59 of the Maui’s Dolphins remaining in the wild at that time, which has decreased by about 12 to what they believe are only 47 remaining in the wild off the coast of New Zealand. With little regard for the invasiveness of their tactics, fisherman have drawn in and killed the Maui’s Dolphin, to the point where directly intervention is now essential to ensure the continuation of the exceptionally rare marine mammals.
