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Source: Photos.com
A dead Maui's dolphin has been found washed up in Manukau Harbour, amid experts warning that a single unnatural death could have disastrous consequences for the critically-endangered species.
The cause of the adult female's death remains unclear, although an Otago University zoologist says human intervention was definitely involved.
The dolphin was found on the shore on October 26, on an isolated patch of coastline some way inside the harbour.
The Conservation Department's Maui's recovery group leader Phil Brown said it was in a badly decomposed state, but it was likely the death was natural.
"I'm not filled with despair. I just hope that it was a happy, healthy, mature female who has run her course and contributed fully to the population."
A pathology report found no specific cause of death. The dolphin had suffered a cut down its midline, and the pathologist's report said it was not possible to determine whether that was inflicted by a human.
However, Otago University associate professor Liz Slooten said the cut was definitely caused by human interference, possibly while it was being hauled on to a boat.
It was assumed there were only about 25 adult females, and they were crucial to the species' survival, Slooten said.
"Losing one of those is a tragedy. This species is listed as critically endangered. If you remove that individual from the population, that's really, really bad."
The last Conservation Department population estimate of Maui's dolphins was 111 individuals, but work is under way on an updated figure that is expected to be just under 100.
Brown said the loss of an adult female could have significant consequences. While natural deaths occurred all the time, "what we would be very concerned about is if there is any increase in the mortality rate by humans, either directly or indirectly".
The dead female was found further inside the harbour than is believed usual for dolphins, and Brown said it might have floated there.
The last recorded Maui's death was in November 2010 off the Raglan coast. The cause of death was again recorded as open, and it was again unknown whether there had been any human interaction.
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