Maui's dolphin - Google Docs

Maui’s Dolphin

By: Tenzin Namdol
5Orange

Table of Contents

Page 1: Table of Contents
Page 2: Glossary
Page 3-4: Descriptive
Page 5-6: Sequence
Page 7-8: Compare and Contrast
Page 9-10: Cause and Effect
Page 11-12: Problem and Solution
Page 13: All About Me

1

Glossary

Calves: Baby Maui’s dolphin.
Entanglement: Get twisted up and caught.
Organochlorines: any of a large group of pesticides and other synthetic
organic compounds with chlorinated aromatic molecules.
Subspecies: A subdivision of species.

2

Descriptive

The Maui’s dolphin, also known as Popoto is
the world’s smallest and rarest subspecies of
dolphins. This dolphin can only be found in off the
west coast of New Zealand's North Island. It can
grow up to 4 to 6 feet and weigh 95 to 115 pound
when it has matured. Maui’s dolphin are mostly
identified as North Island Hector’s dolphin. The
Maui’s dolphin can be easily classified by its small
black rounded dorsal fin that is located on its
back. They have a lifespan of 20 years.

3

This is how a Maui’s dolphin looks like. 

 

4

Sequence

The life cycle of a Maui’s dolphin is very
interesting. Young Maui’s dolphin have a slow
birth rate. First, female dolphins mature at
around 7-9 years old. They give birth every 2-4
years. Then, mothers and their babies or
otherwise known as calves travel around in a
small nursery group for a while to stay safer. The
mother feeds their young for six months until the
calves begin to hunt and eat squid and fish on
their own. Maui’s dolphin have a shorter lifespan
than most dolphins, most of them only live up to
20 years and have 4 calves in their lifetime.

5

This is e life of a Maui’s dolphin. 
6

Compare and Contrast

Other than the Maui’s dolphin, the Hector’s
dolphin is also the world’s smallest and rarest
dolphin. Even though the Maui’s dolphin is a
subspecies of the Hector’s dolphin, there are
many similarities and differences between them.
The Hector’s dolphin are listed as endangered
and the Maui’s dolphin are listed as critically
endangered. Also, the North Island Hector’s
dolphin is slightly bigger and has a longer snout
than the New Zealand Maui’s dolphin. Something
that the two dolphins have in common are is that
they both live up to 20 years. As you can see,
the Maui’s dolphin and the Hector’s dolphin are
both different and similar.

7

One is a Hect ’s dolphin, e o er is a Maui’s 
dolphin. 

8

Cause and Effect

Fishing nets are not the only cause of the
probability of the extinction of Maui’s dolphin,
people polluting the ocean are too. The effects
are getting more severe each and every day that
goes by. Organochlorines are found in pesticides
and some building materials, and reach Maui
dolphin habitat. Organochlorines affect breeding
for some marine mammal species, meaning Maui’s
dolphin are affected along with it. This is bad
because this mean that the Maui’s dolphin can
not produce successful childbirth. So, instead of
polluting the ocean, clean it.

9

People are endangering Maui’s dolphin. 
10

Problem and Solution

The problem is that the Maui’s dolphin is on
the brink of extinction. The reason why is due to
the entanglement of fishing gear. People who go
out to fish should be more careful of the dolphins
that are swimming near. Another solution is that
fishermen should not use fishing nets. Instead of
using fishing nets to carry big fish, they should
use some type of safer equipment to catch a fish.
This new equipment shouldn’t hurt the dolphin, it
should keep it safe.

11

Maui’s dolphin are getting entangled in nets. 
12

All About Me

My name is Tenzin Namdol. That’s my full name, I
have no middle name. I have a brother and two
loving parents. I like to read most of the time I’m
at home and sometime just go for a run. That is
pretty much the one of the interesting things
about my life. So, bye and thank you for your
time.

13