Research shows Hector's dolphin population bigger than previously realisedA team from Nelson's Cawthron Institute have discovered there are potentially twice then number of Hector's dolphins in New Zealand waters than previously realised. Hector's dolphins are one of the world's rarest dolphins and at only 1.4 metres long and 50 kilograms they're also one of the smallest. Clement said policy makers had been provided with with robust scientific evidence so they could make effective decisions around protecting and managing Hector's dolphins. More than 670 hours were spent surveying from the air, up to 20 nautical miles offshore, covering an area of 75,196 square kilometres. Hector's dolphins were previously thought to be a mainly inshore species, however Clement's team found up to half the population in unprotected waters beyond four nautical miles offshore.

Source: Stuff August 07, 2016 20:03 UTC