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In 2002, it was discovered that the small population of dolphins off the North Island’s west coast were so genetically different from those down south that they should be classed as a separate subspecies, the Māui dolphin. With as few as 48 individuals left, they’re one of the world’s rarest cetaceans, and their numbers are still declining.
“I’m really optimistic for Hector’s dolphins,” says Constantine. “I like to remain optimistic for the Māui dolphin. Every time you go out and see them, they’re bouncing around and doing all the fun things that they do. They don’t know they’re on the edge of extinction, they don’t know they’re the world’s rarest dolphin. I always have faith when I see them.”
Shot on assignment for New Zealand Geographic Issue: 183 September / October 2023.
Read the Feature: https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/the-special-case-of-our-smallest-dolphins/
Photograph Richard Robinson © 2023.
Rights managed image. No Reproduction without prior written permission.
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Richard Robinson © 2023. No Reproduction without prior written permission.
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THE SPECIAL CASE OF OUR SMALLEST DOLPHINS
In 2002, it was discovered that the small population of dolphins off the North Island’s west coast were so genetically different from those down south that they should be classed as a separate subspecies, the Māui dolphin. With as few as 48 individuals left, they’re one of the world’s rarest cetaceans, and their numbers are still declining.<br /> “I’m really optimistic for Hector’s dolphins,” says Constantine. “I like to remain optimistic for the Māui dolphin. Every time you go out and see them, they’re bouncing around and doing all the fun things that they do. They don’t know they’re on the edge of extinction, they don’t know they’re the world’s rarest dolphin. I always have faith when I see them.”<br /> Shot on assignment for New Zealand Geographic Issue: 183 September / October 2023.<br /> Read the Feature: https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/the-special-case-of-our-smallest-dolphins/<br /> Photograph Richard Robinson © 2023.<br /> Rights managed image. No Reproduction without prior written permission.