September 19th, 2024
In a heartwarming display of community spirit and collaboration, the Department of Conservation (DOC) staff, Ahipara takiwā hapū members and local surfers united to rescue a pod of 25 rare rough-toothed dolphins stranded on a reef at Tauroa Point, near the southern tip of 90 Mile Beach. While 10 of the dolphins tragically perished before help arrived, the joint effort managed to shepherd the remaining 15 back to the safety of the open sea.
The stranding, which is an unprecedented event for the rough-toothed dolphin species in New Zealand, saw DOC Ranger Abe Witana leading the operation. Witana expressed gratitude to Tui Te Paa and other hapū representatives, as well as the local surfing community, for their invaluable assistance in saving these extraordinary creatures.
The public has been urged to report any whale or dolphin strandings to the DOC emergency hotline on 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) to ensure timely interventions in such situations.
Typically found in warmer tropical waters, rough-toothed dolphins are a rare sight in New Zealand. There have only been four recorded strandings in the country's history, with the previous largest involving a mere four animals in south Marlborough in 1990. The recent stranding highlights the ongoing need for vigilance and preparedness to protect these unique marine mammals.