A bottlenose dolphin freed after becoming tangled in a fishing net in Auckland waters earlier this month has died from blood poisoning from an infected wound.
The juvenile was freed from the net near Riverhead on January 8.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) today said they were alerted to a stranded dolphin at Sanders Reserve on January 14.
“She was taken to the Cetacean Ecology Research Group at Massey University for dissection,” DOC said.
“The initial examination showed a thin, weak, young dolphin who appeared to be fighting a serious infection. Samples later confirmed that she died from blood poisoning from an infected wound where she was entangled.
“We are grateful to Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara for allowing the dolphin to be examined, Te Kāwerau a Maki for their support throughout the process, Massey University for leading the examination, and Project Jonah for their support during this incident.”
She was given the name Te Ihu Wai Pounamu by Ngāti Whātua after her death.
DOC said entanglement in fishing gear and marine debris is “a growing threat to marine life”.
“This is a tragic reminder to minimise floating slack lines when setting fishing gear and to dispose of waste and old gear responsibly to prevent marine debris.”
