MOTATAPU MARATHON FOR MAUI DOLPHINS

I am running the Motatapu Mountain Marathon to raise money and awareness to the plight of the Maui dolphin. Also known as one of the hardest marathons in NZ, I will struggle through a grueling 28km uphill gradient followed by 14km of steep gully and tussock land.

This cause lies very close to my heart after studying these beautiful creatures in depth as a part of my Zoology/Marine Biology degree at Otago University. All donations will go to the New Zealand World Wildlife Foundation Maui dolphin projects (read below).

The hobbit of the ocean is endemic to New Zealand and it is New Zealand's responsibility to ensure its survival. Evidently this has not been the case as the Maui dolphin is listed as critically endangered with numbers declining to the brink of extinction. The source of decline is at the hands of the commercial fishing industry where trawl, setnet and driftnet methods are detrimental to these dolphins. Both direct (bycatch) and indirect effects (reduced food availability) from fishing account for 95.5% of total Maui dolphin mortalities - 4.97 deaths per years

UNDER CURRENT PROTECTION MORTALITY CAUSED BY FISHING ALONE COULD RESULT IN EXTINCTION IN UNDER 20 YEARS

Non-fishing-related threats including mining and oil activities, vessel traffic, pollution, predation and disease (Toxoplasma gondii) are estimated to contribute 4.5% of Maui dolphin mortalities per year

Maui dolphins live in small pods of 1-5 on the West Coast of the North Island in coastal waters up to 100m in depth - CURRENTLY LESS THAN HALF OF THEIR SMALL HABITAT IS PROTECTED

The New Zealand government have failed to implement the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and IUCN protection recommendations that would extend the protected area to their whole habitat range providing a sanctuary for numbers to recover.

Implementing IWC recommendation would IMPROVE probability of population recovery from 0 up to 40%

Instead, the government is condoning the use of a fishing method that is well known worldwide to kill dolphins in the habitat of the rarest dolphin in the world.

DOES NZ WANT TO BE THE FIRST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD TO OVERSEE THE EXTINCTION OF A MARINE DOLPHIN AS A RESULT OF HUMAN ACTIVITY?

WWF advocate for better protection for Maui dolphins by using their resources to encourage the government to implement IWC recommendations as well as advocating for industry transition to dolphin safe fishing methods, and calling for government to support this transition.

HIGHEST THREE DONATIONS WILL RECEIVE A SOFT TOY DOLPHIN!

>>> VIDEO TO COME <<<