Why Are Maui's Dolphins Endangered?
Have you every dreamed of seeing a Maui's dolphins or playing with one. Well that dream might not become true because the Maui’s dolphins are becoming extinct. There population is dwindling every year! There are only 30 left in new zealand. Lets start saving them . What can you do ?
They are dieing by unnatural causes like being caught in gill nets. Gills nets are nets that are hung vertically and form an invisible wall in the water. When the maui’s dolphins go near the gill nets they get captured in there.. People should stop using gill nets and start using normal fishing nets so that the maui's dolphins won't become extinct.
Runoff pollution is also a big cause of the maui’s dolphins becoming extinct.. Runoff pollution is chemicals that go into the sea from farmland. When that happens more and more sea animals are becoming extinct.
Enough calves are born to replace the dolphins that die by natural causes. There are only a fews maui dolphins left and the female dolphins only have 0-6 babies in their lifetime. Maui’s dolphins only have a few babies.
Whenever a boat sinks, the oil fuel which is from the boat goes to the sea and destroys the maui’s dolphins habitat. When this happens the oil fuel pollutes the ocean and it does not just destroy the maui's dolphins habitat. it destroys some of the other sea creatures habitats as well. How would you feel if you were a sea creature and oil fuel destroys your home?
So what are you waiting for? These dolphins can not save themselves. Maui’s dolphins are dying from gill nets, maui’s dolphins are dying of runoff pollution. Maui’s dolphins are dying because of us. Because of us these fascinating, playful, beautiful dolphins are becoming extinct. So join me to save these poor little dolphins from becoming extinct.
Information about them:
Scientific name: Cephalorhynchus Hectori Maui
Population: 30 to 50
Habitat : These dolphins are only found in NZ. They live small pods in areas of the west coast between New Plymouth and northland. They stay within 10 kilometres of the coast, coming in closer at summer time.
Appearance: Maui's dolphins are very easy to recognise. They have a rounded snout and a rounded dorsal fin. Maui dolphins are the smallest dolphins in the world and they are 1.2 to 1.6 metres long.
Food: Maui's dolphins mainly eat small fish and squid like the flat fish.
