Introducing Hector's & Maui's dolphins
Hector’s dolphins and their close relative the Maui’s dolphin live only in New Zealand and are both the smallest and rarest marine dolphins on earth. Entanglement in gill and trawl nets has devastated them to near extinction. Unless things change, Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins will become extinct. If Maui's dolphins become extinct, and in the current situation this is imminent, New Zealand will be the first country in the world to send a marine cetacean to extinction.
Hector's and Maui's dolphin statistics
Scientific name
Hector’s dolphin: Cephalorhynchus hectori,
Maui’s dolphin: Cephalorhynchus hectori maui
Size
1.2-1.5m, neonate calves: 60-80 cm.
Adult females are about 10 cm longer than males.
Weight
approx. 40kg., neonate calves: 8-10 kg.
Identifying characteristics:
black, rounded ‘Mickey mouse-ear' dorsal fin
Population
Hector's dolphins: under 7400
Maui's dolphins: less than 55 individuals older than 1 year
Distribution:
Southwest Pacific in the coastal waters around New Zealand up to 100m deep. Most common on the central east and west coasts of the South Island between 41° 30’ and 44° 30’ S. Maui’s dolphins live exclusively off the west coast of the North island between 36° 30’ and 38° 20’ S.
Hector’s dolphin: Cephalorhynchus hectori,
Maui’s dolphin: Cephalorhynchus hectori maui
Size
1.2-1.5m, neonate calves: 60-80 cm.
Adult females are about 10 cm longer than males.
Weight
approx. 40kg., neonate calves: 8-10 kg.
Identifying characteristics:
black, rounded ‘Mickey mouse-ear' dorsal fin
Population
Hector's dolphins: under 7400
Maui's dolphins: less than 55 individuals older than 1 year
Distribution:
Southwest Pacific in the coastal waters around New Zealand up to 100m deep. Most common on the central east and west coasts of the South Island between 41° 30’ and 44° 30’ S. Maui’s dolphins live exclusively off the west coast of the North island between 36° 30’ and 38° 20’ S.
Slow reproduction - Slow recovery
Females don’t breed until they are 7-9 years old and only give birth to a single calf every 2-4 years.
With a life span of up to 20 years, mothers can only raise a small number of calves.
Maximum population growth for this species is a mere 2%. This means that a population of 100 can increase by just two individuals a year.
With a life span of up to 20 years, mothers can only raise a small number of calves.
Maximum population growth for this species is a mere 2%. This means that a population of 100 can increase by just two individuals a year.
Find out why these amazing dolphins are threatened with extinction and how you can help to save them. Click here
