HELP SAVE THE MĀUI DOLPHINS!

Article submitted by: WWF

The latest estimate is that there are currently around 63 Māui dolphins left – making them the world’s rarest marine dolphin. Our Māui dolphins are only found on the West Coast of the North Island, and only half of their habitat is protected.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?

This year, the Māui Dolphin Challenge is bringing people from all over New Zealand together to raise awareness about  the plight of our native dolphin through online fundraising, and as a New Zealand conservation platform and network WWF would love to have you join them to help inspire and motivate others to join the challenge.

It’s easy to get involved with the Māui Dolphin Challenge. You may decide that as an organisation you want to have your own challenge, or individual members might like to be involved.

PICK A CHALLENGE! HERE’S A FEW IDEAS TO GET YOU STARTED:

1. A network challenge, where organisations participate in the challenge and compete to raise the most money, with the winner receiving a prize (eg. membership fee, bragging rights, social media shout-outs etc)
2. Organising a beach clean up at your local beach with your colleagues or friends to pick up 63 bags of rubbish (at least!)
3. 63 days of donating the cost of one morning coffee to the challenge
4. Running, cycling, or swimming 6.3 or 63km of coastline

WWF understand that many of us are extremely busy at this time of year, so if you are unable to commit to your own challenge then supporting another challenge via being a sponsor, or using social media to help spread awareness, would be incredibly valuable to help us raise awareness and encourage New Zealanders to get involved and behind the cause.

• Set up a fundraising page and invite your family, friends, colleagues and fans to sponsor you. Head to mauidolphin.org.nz to create your page and get fundraising!
• Spread the word! Tell the world about your challenge on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and get people excited and inspired to help the last 63.

There are only 63 of these beautiful animals left, and while flippers are great, the fate of the Māui Dolphin is in our hands. They need all the help they can get, and having you and your network as a voice for them would be a huge boost for the species and their future. This is a great opportunity conservation advocates to get behind us to help save a national treasure, and the Māui Dolphins need all the help they can get.

For more information about the world’s rarest and smallest marine mammal,visit the WWF website here.