New Zealand is at risk of being the first country to drive a dolphin species to extinction, says the World Wildlife Fund after the discovery of a second dead Hector's dolphin within 48 hours.
The butchered carcass of a Hector's dolphin was found on Monday, and another dolphin was found strandedon Tuesday, both in Kaikoura.
World Wildlife Fund New Zealand conservation director Chris Howe called on the Government to urgently introduce "long overdue" measures to protect the species.
While autopsies had not been completed, a high number of dolphin deaths in recent years had been the result of fishing-related activity, he said.
"The first carcass has the telltale signs of being a fishing-related death, as it has been reported in the past that drowned dolphins have been cut from nets hoping they will sink," he said.
Department of Conservation officials said the dolphin had net marks around its head, and it was not yet known whether it was already dead when it was hacked in half with a knife.
Yesterday, DoC staff examined a second dead dolphin on Mangamanu Beach, north of Kaikoura township.
DoC Kaikoura field centre supervisor Mike Morrissey said it appeared this dolphin, too, had drowned in a net.
The male dolphin, in "really good condition", was probably caught on Tuesday night or early yesterday.
Both bodies had been sent to Massey University to undergo autopsies.
Mr Howe said there was an urgent need for a species recovery plan that addressed all threats to the Hector's dolphin and to its critically endangered sub-species, Maui's dolphin, of which fewer than 100 remain.
Fishing, marine farming, pollution, recreational boating and genetic isolation of local populations, were all taking their toll on the fragile mammal.
"We urge the Government to formulate and implement a recovery plan to address threats to both Hector's and Maui's dolphins nationally. Otherwise we could be at risk of being the first country to drive a dolphin species to extinction," Mr Howe said.
Mr Morrissey said there were only about 1800 Hector's dolphins left in the South Island.
"Any further reduction in the population puts the future of the whole species in jeopardy."
