Moko (dolphin)

Moko
Moko playing with a surfboard in 2010
SpeciesBottlenose dolphin
SexMale
Born2006
Died7 July 2010(2010-07-07) (aged 3–4)
Resting placeMatakana Island, NZ
Bay of Plenty, NZ
Years active2007–2010
Known forRescue of pygmy sperm whales
TitleMoko Of Mahia[citation needed]

Moko (2006 – 7 July 2010) was a male bottlenose dolphin who associated with humans on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand from 2007 to 2010.

Moko, short for Mokotahi, a headland on Mahia Peninsula, was three years old as of July 2009.[1] He resided at Mahia Beach for two and a half years from 2007 to September 2009[2][3] and became a major attraction there.[1] He received worldwide fame when he rescued two pygmy sperm whales in March 2008.[1][4] A year later, he trapped a woman out at sea.[5] At the beginning of September 2009, Moko moved 80 km up the coast to Waikanae Beach, Gisborne,[2] and in January 2010, he moved to Whakatāne in the Bay of Plenty for five months before following a fishing boat to Tauranga on 3 June.[6] Scientists were worried about Moko's welfare after a study found he had been scarred by boats and a fish hook.[1] He was found dead on a beach at Matakana Island near Tauranga on 7 July 2010.[7]

  1. ^ a b c d "Playful dolphin strands NZ woman". BBC. 27 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  2. ^ a b "Moko heads north to find new playmates". The New Zealand Herald. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  3. ^ "Harbour Hector may be lying low". stuff.co.nz. 2009-07-22. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Independent was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Moko traps swimmer - Hawkes Bay Today News". NZ Herald. 2024-05-22. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  6. ^ "DoC investigates reports Moko hit with oar". The New Zealand Herald. 15 January 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  7. ^ "Dead dolphin probably Moko - DOC". The New Zealand Herald. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.