A research programme that aroused controversy over its plan to tag endangered dolphins with satellite transmitters is said to be uncovering information that could aid the rare mammals' survival.
Three Hector's dolphins were tagged near Banks Peninsula as part of a Department of Conservation programme to assess if satellites could be
used to learn more about the mammals' movements, and if the same could be done with the rarer Maui's dolphin.
An estimated 150 Maui's dolphins remain in the world, living off the North Island's west coast.
But a scientific report suggested 33 per cent of them would need to be tagged to be of any use, and the risks outweighed the benefits.
There were also fears that tagging could severely damage the dolphins' dorsal fins and leave them at risk of infection.
But a Massey University expert on marine mammals, Dr Padraig Duignan, said yesterday that the research was crucial to build up knowledge about the animals.
"If they are struck by an epidemic, or even if we have live single stranded animals, we at least will have some data from healthy dolphins to assist in diagnoses."
The transmitter tags, which send data on the dolphins' movements via satellite, were attached by two nylon pins with metal nuts that will corrode in sea water, releasing the tag after about three months.
Dr Duignan said early data had shown the dolphins appear to have a home range but they also go on excursions outside this range.
He said the live capture of the dolphins provided an excellent opportunity to assess the health of the animals. "There has never been a health assessment done on any free living dolphin species in New Zealand. Any information we have is based on dead animals, not animals in the wild."
- NZPA
Herald Feature: Conservation and Environment
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