Hector's+Dolphin-+Alina+C.

My Animal is the Hectors Dolphin. Hector dolphins live on shores of New Zealand's north island.

They eat fish and squid,Sharks and Whales eat hector dolphins.

reperduction of the hector dolphinFemales take part in mating when they are from 7 to 9 years of age. For males it ranges from 5 to 9 years. When a pair is going to mate, they spend time with courtship rituals. They can include chasing, leaping, displaying the belly, and touching. They will also move through the water in very close proximity to each other.It takes from 10 to 12 months after mating for the calf to arrive, tail first. The young arrive either in the later part of spring or the early summer. The young form very close bonds with their mother and they will be fully weaned about 2 years of age. The development stage of a Hector’s Dolphin will often play a role in where it goes in the pod. Sometimes they will be with juveniles, other times with breeding populations, and then at times with non-breeding populations.One of the concerns for this species of dolphin is their slow rate of reproduction. The females will have a calf once every 2 to 4 years. They won’t mate until the young calf they are caring for is completely weaned and taking care of its own needs. The average lifespan in the wild is from 20 to 25 years

some intersting facts: > Set net fishing poses a major threat to Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins. Like all marine mammals they need to come to the surface regularly to breathe. If they become tangled in set nets, they will hold their breath until they suffocate.Because these dolphins occur close inshore, often in bays and harbors, they are at risk of being injured by boats. Newborn dolphins are particularly vulnerable as they swim relatively slowly, close to the surface. Some have been killed by boat propellers, when unwary boating have run them over.Other potential threats to their survival include trawling, marine pollution, disease and impacts of tourism and aquaculture.
 * One of the rarest of all dolphins in the world is the Hector’s Dolphin. It is also classified as one of the smallest marine dolphins. The name of this species is for Sir James Hector, the scientist from New Zealand that was first to really examine them. There is still plenty we don’t known about them.
 * These dolphins often prefer to travel in small groups of up to 5 although they can be seen in pods of 20 or more during mating periods.
 * Mothers may nurse their young (feeding them milk) for up to 18 months.

The hectors dolphins are endangered which means it is Seriously at risk of extinction

people that are helping: [|http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/cetaceans/about/hectors_do][|lphin/]

what they do to help: Action has been taken to protect the dolphin from fishing by closing part of the dolphin's range on the West Coast North Island to gillnetting, and by setting an allowable level of fishing-related mortality for part of the East Coast of the South Island.WWF-New Zealand advocates increased protection of the dolphin through government fisheries and conservation decisions, and supports a community and schools awareness program (currently for Maui's; a South Island program is in development). It also carries out research to inform management, including a public sightings network for Maui's dolphin via a dedicated website and toll-free number; aerial surveys for distribution and abundance; genetic research; and brings together organizations which are working to protect Hector's dolphin. WWF's objectives for Hector's dolphin and its subspecies Maui's dolphin are that by 2009, threats have been reduced to a level that allows the species to begin increasing in abundance, extending the range of Maui's dolphin and reducing isolation of Hector's dolphin populations.

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP:
 * Call for a complete gillnet (set net and drift net) ban in waters up to 100 metres deep around the New Zealand coast.
 * Write a letter or send an email to the Minister for Primary Industries and the Minister of Conservation. Ask them to strengthen protection measures
 * Adopt a hectors dolphin.



WEBSITES: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/4162/0 http://worldwildlife.org/species/hector-s-dolpin http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/marine-mammals/dolphins/hectos-dolphin/