©: University of Auckland

HELP SAVE THE LAST 63

Māui dolphins are found only off the west coast of New Zealand's North Island

These beautiful animals are unique to Aotearoa New Zealand. The world's smallest dolphin, Māui dolphins are friendly and playful, with distinctive black Mickey-Mouse-ear dorsal fins.

But they could soon disappear forever - unless we act now. Scientists estimate that just 63 adult Māui dolphins survive today. They are on the brink of extinction. The Māui dolphin population has plummeted from around 1500 in the 1970s, when deadly set nets (also known as gillnets) were widely introduced to our waters. More recently, new threats like the disease toxoplasmosis have emerged – and might even now be a bigger threat than fishing.

It is still possible to save Maui dolphins. The best available science shows that all human threats need to be reduced by 50-75% within ten years. This means Government needs to take immediate action to support affected people and communities to move to methods of fishing that are safe for dolphins and address threats of toxoplasmosis.

These dolphins are in real trouble. Together, it’s possible to save them.