By PHILIP ENGLISH
A university researcher working to ensure the survival of a small population of unique dolphins which inhabit waters off Auckland's west coast last night received a cash grant towards her studies.
Kirsty Russell, a University of Auckland School of Biological Sciences PhD student, was handed $2000 by the Minister of Conservation, Sandra Lee, for research into the North Island Hector's dolphin.
The money came from the Whale and Dolphin Adoption Project and is a welcome boost for Kirsty Russell and the threatened dolphins.
Only about 100 of the small, playful dolphins are left. They could be called Auckland's own, but few people seem to care about them.
They swim in west coast waters from the Kaipara Harbour to Taranaki and are sometimes seen riding the swells and surf around the Manukau Heads.
The dolphins are genetically distinct from the South Island Hector's dolphin of which about 4000 are left.
Kirsty Russell is analysing the diet of the North Island Hector's dolphin.
Her work involves trying to establish what fish the dolphins prey on and whether the dolphins follow seasonal movements of fish or squid.
But she can find out what species the dolphins are eating only by investigating the stomach contents of dead or stranded dolphins.
"It's a difficult procedure because we have got to get dead dolphins to do it. But we don't want many dead dolphins because of the population size."
Kirsty Russell constantly strives to get money for her research and sometimes has to delve into her own savings to pay for it.
Prospective sponsors do not see the research is not seen as a high priority.
But she has received some support from the Department of Conservation, the World Wide Fund for Nature New Zealand, the Seafood Industry Council and the Waitakere branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society.
The biggest cost is getting out on the water which can cost $100 a day without the extra cost of laboratory analysis or developing photographs used to identify the dolphins.
Aquapro International provides a boat and CPS New Zealand provides a tow vehicle.
Kirsty Russell's grant was one of four of $2000 handed to dolphin and fur seal researchers by the Whale and Dolphin Adoption Project last night.
The Minister of Fisheries, Pete Hodgson, will release a discussion paper on the protection of the North Island Hector's dolphin this month.
Once it has been released, the paper will be available from ministry offices or by e-mail at hectorsdolphin@fish.govt.nz
Kirsty pours cash bonus into saving rare dolphin
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.