NZ Marine Studies Centre Hosts Lecture on Endangered Hectors Dolphin pecies Zoo and Aquarium Visitor News

NZ Marine Studies Centre Hosts Lecture on Endangered Hector's Dolphin Species

By Tessa Mills

Portobello, New Zealand - The endangered Hector's Dolphin species is found only in New Zealand. The North Island population has recently been described as a separate subspecies because it is so different genetically. This very small dolphin has a very small home range, only about 50 km of coastline. Their behaviour includes a wide range of interesting postures, leaps and lobtails, playing with weed and surfing. The talk will include photos of these and explanations as to what the behaviour might mean. Females first give birth at about 7-9 years of age. The calf is very large compared to the size of the mother, so delivering and raising each calf really takes it out of her. Females give birth every two to three years at best. This relatively low reproductive rate makes the dolphins vulnerable to human impacts, such as entanglement in fishing gear. Some 110-150 dolphins were caught each year during 2000-06 and this is not sustainable.

Sunday 7th June 2009, 3.30 pm

Venue: NZ Marine Studies Centre, Hatchery Road, Portobello

New protection measures were put in place last year by the Minister of Fisheries to protect the dolphins from bycatch in fishing nets. These new regulations are analysed to show how effective they are likely to be. These are currently the subject of a court case, with the fishing industry taking the Minister of Fisheries to court.

This talk is illustrated with stunning photos and video footage and will end with a discussion about what each of us can do to help save these magnificent creatures.

Dr Liz Slooten is New Zealand's leading authority on the use of population modelling to estimate sustainable levels of marine mammal bycatch in fishing operations. Her teaching and research interests include a wide range of scientific approaches to ensuring that intentional and unintentional impacts on animal populations are sustainable. These include visual and acoustic census techniques, study of survival and movements of identifiable individuals, study of pollutant levels in marine mammals and other animals, effects of tourism on marine mammal behaviour, reproductive biology, population modelling, risk assessment and decision analysis. Dr Slooten represents New Zealand at the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission.

Gold coin donation
Enquiries to NZ Marine Studies Centre on (03) 479 5826
www.marine.ac.nz

To view New Zealand Marine Studies Centre and Aquarium's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-2143-New_Zealand_Marine_Studies_Centre_and_Aquarium

Share |

User login

Your Comments listed below have been added (Scroll down to add additional comments)

123123

tiffany

gucci

hermes

prada

tiffany

q455923354

louis vuitton handbags
louis vuitton shoes
louis vuitton watches

q455923354

We are continuing our transition to energy-efficient LED lights. The lights used for the dancing tree show this year are all LED and will use only one-third the power used last year.
_________________________________________________________
http://www.eluxurywow.net/

Unusual to have three snow leopard cubs

Congratulations to ABQ BioPark and the proud cat parents on the birth of three snow leopard cubs. That's fantastic news and we look forward to these three playing an important role in snow leopard survival breeding and also helping educate people about their endangered cousins in the wild.

Snow leopards live in some of the most extreme environments on earth - in high altitudes and freezing temperatures. If we don't do a lot of work with communities and governments in snow leopards 12 range countries, these beautiful cats may be extinct in the wild in our life time.

Sibylle Noras
Founder and Publisher
“Saving Snow Leopards” website. See how conservationists and zoos are working to help these rare and elusive cats avoid extinction.

http://www.snowleopardblog.com

Love penguin fluffballs.

I especially liked if you go to the zoo's homepage and click on the info about naming the baby, the winner says she'd like to be able to tell her dad that a penguin was named after him for his birthday. Adorable!

If you have any interest in reading a new blog, featuring conservation of adorable animals and their habitats, please check out my website...

Conservation:Cute
http://conservationcute.blogspot.com/

Thanks!

World Oceans Day

For more information about World Oceans Day and a list of other events in your area you can visit www.WorldOceansDay.org

Elephants

Asome news on the new baby! I agree with everyone here on the fact that animals should not be in captivation. If you want to check out a really cool place in Thailand where you can care for elephants check out http://www.elephantstay.com this place is a sanctuary for retired working elephants, it's an amazing place and they do so much good for the animals who live there. I went a few months ago and it was amazing.

Kimberly Juchnowski

Publisher, http://www.tikikiki.com

zoo animal diet's

It's ridiculous to try extrapolate zoo animals diet to human beings, and it flies in the face of all science of the last 30 years that looked into nutrition and health research. Maybe Rudy Socha was being sarcastic? I hope so.

response to starseed

I fully agree with you when it comes to the captivity of orcas. These animals live considerably shorter, unhealthier lives than they normally would have in the wild. I am disgusted by what I have seen at Sea World. They claim to be trying to educate people on the animals when really it is all nothing but a circus with the animals being made to perform to attract customers. I am a little more on the fence however when it comes to some other species of dolphins, such as the ones they keep at Vancouver Aquarium. While I do not support the capture of wild dolphins, I do recognize the fact that there are species that actually live longer and perhaps healthier lives in captivity than in the wild. One of the neat things at the Vancouver Aquarium is that none of the dolphins were captured for the purpose of entertainment: they were all animals that were rescued after getting caught and injured in fishing nets and are unable to return to the wild due to their injuries. I have seen the shows and the aquarium are truly focused more on educating visitors than trying to entertain them at the animals' expense.

Christian's Award

I know that Christian is dedicated to her aquarium job and to the rehab of sea turtles. I am proud of her.

Dry Tortugas National Park

The seashore, our accredited Summer Learning Adventure Camps merge scientific exploration Dry Tortugas National Park with hands-on fun and learning. Campers investigate marine habitats, create ocean art projects, learn about careers in oceanography, and combine the science and sports of surfing and snorkeling, all while making new friends and memories.

hey

http://www.deafmatching.com is an online community for deaf, ASL and hearing-impaired friends and singles!
Have fun with photos, message boards, chat, blog and more.

Don't support it anymore

I think we should move on from having dolphins in captivity now - we all know this isn't good for them.

diabetes

A diabetic diet guide on how to manage different type of diabetes http://DiabetesMeal.info

diabetes

A diabetic diet guide on how to manage different type of diabetes http://DiabetesMeal.info

pacaya samiria national reserve

The Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is a magical place. The flora, fauna, remoteness and beauty are exquisite. Another interesting aspect is how the indigenous people there live. To learn more and see photos taken by indigenous children in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, you can visit ninosdelaamazonia.org

User login

Links

NZ Marine Studies Centre Hosts Lecture on Endangered Hector's Dolphin Species

User login

Your Comments listed below have been added (Scroll down to add additional comments)