The endangered Hectors dolphin is found only in inshore waters off New Zealand's South Island...

The Hectors dolphins are among the world's smallest dolphins. They are found only in the inshore waters of New Zealand's South Island. Its close cousin, the Maui dolphin, is found in west coast waters off the North Island.

They are the only dolphins in New Zealand with a wellrounded dorsal fin. Their bodies are a distinctive grey colour with black and white markings and a short snout.

They are also an endangered species - down to only 8,000 in number at present. They also only breed every two to three years.

Hectors dolphins have also been reported to get caught in fishing nets at times.

http://ecospree.com

http://www.blackcat.co.nz/wildlife.html/

http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/marine-mammals/dolphins/hectors-dolphin.fact/

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Zealandia - just ten minutes downtown from central Wellington - New Zealands capital city...

http://ecospree.com/







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Discover ZEALANDIA: New Zealand's ultimate nature experience



A paradise that took 80 million years to evolve was almost destroyed in the last few hundred...



Just 10 minutes from central Wellington, ZEALANDIA is a unique eco-attraction. New Zealand's incredible natural history and our world-renowned conservation movement are brought to life with a state-of-the-art indoor exhibition.







Then step through our predator-proof fence into our beautiful 225ha (550 acre) eco-sanctuary for your best opportunity to see some of New Zealand's rarest birds, reptiles and insects in the wild.





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Kiwi bird rehabbing on treadmill...

A clumsy kiwi bird has been using a treadmill to restore its strength after suffering two broken legs in separate accidents.


Piwi was plucked from the North Island's Mount Ruapehu after wildlife experts noticed the bird had a broken leg.



The four-year-old, only half the size of a normal kiwi his age, had little chance of surviving.



Piwi was transferred to nearby Massey University's Wildlife Ward, where veterinarians re-broke the leg so it could heal properly. It was then transported to a wildlife park for rehabilitation.



Unluckily for the kiwi, it soon broke its other leg and had to be rushed back to Massey University for further treatment.



There, vets and a local physiotherapist devised the unusual plan of using a treadmill to aid the bird's recovery.



"The first time we put him on he just sat there looking a bit disgruntled," Massey University vet Lisa Argilla told MSN NZ.



"But it didn't take long for him to catch on. It's really improved the muscle tone in his legs."



It is believed to be the first time a treadmill has been used on an injured kiwi.



Dr Argilla said the bird will have every chance of a healthy life when it returnes to the wild.

http://news.msn.co.nz/article/7937473/injured-kiwi-bird-takes-to-treadmill

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More protected forest geckos stolen in break-in at NZ wildlife park...

Green Planet reports another despicable act of theft from the KiwiNorth museum and heritage park in Whangarei recently. Seven native geckos were stolen from this Northland heritage park and could fetch up to $14,000 on the European black market.

These protected New Zealand  forest geckos were taken after thieves broke into the park after forcing a lock on an enclosure. Park director Sue Walters said the assumption was the geckos would be smuggled overseas.

However, there were documeted cases in NZ of geckos being kept as pets. This would at least keep these animals in the country.

Wildlife Enforcement group senior investigator Stuart Willamson said colleagues had seen forest geckos for sale in Europe for about 1000 Euros or NZ$1700, Four of the stolen geckos were part of a program to repopulate areas the geckos once lived in.

Ms Walters said their staff was devastated . One of the geckos was Fat Albert,  who survived a similar burglary in the park in 2006. He was named as such because he ate all the flies before the other geckos could get to them. He had recently been sick and close attachments had been formed with the staff who had nursed him back to full health.

Four geckos stolen in 2006 had never been recovered. She said security would be improved at the park.

Mr Williamson said the forest gecko was not uncommon in New Zealand but had absolutely protected status,  and was an internationally regulated species. Overseas sales could prove difficult.

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Two tourists jailed in New Zealand for theft of rare geckos - endangered species......

Image by PhillipC via Flickr

Two tourists jailed in New Zealand  for theft of rare geckos - endangered species...







Swiss stockbroker Thomas Price and Mexican chef Gustavo Toledo-Albarran have been jailed for 18 weeks over theft of rare geckos.


Two men who admitted their part in the theft of 16 rare jewelled geckos have both been sent to jail for 18 weeks.



Swiss stockbroker Thomas Price and Mexican chef Gustavo Toledo-Albarran were both sentenced in the Christchurch District Court this afternoon for taking and possessing protected wildlife.



Judge Raoul Neave told the pair to consider themselves lucky, as if he was able to impose a more serious penalty he would.



The maximum term for the offences is six months in jail. Judge Neave started at the maximum term but gave Price and Toledo-Albarran a reduction for their early guilty pleas. He told the court there is endangered wildlife all over the world and what the pair did was no different to the actions of ivory hunters.



The pair's co-accused Manfred Bachmann was jailed for 15 weeks earlier this month.




Acknowledgements: © 2010 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

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