![\"Hector's](\"http:\/\/whalespotter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/BG-NZ-A-4483.jpg\")
<\/a>Hector’s Dolphin<\/p><\/div>\n
Adults can reach up to 1.6m in length and 60kg in weight. Females are usually bigger than the males.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Hector’s Dolphin<\/p><\/div>\n
They are found in coastal waters around most of the South Island except the deeper waters of Fiordland where they are only rarely seen. They feed on fish and squid that the catch at the surface down to mid water depths.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Hector’s Dolphin<\/p><\/div>\n
The Hector’s Dolphin is named after Sir James Hector (1834 – 1907) who was curator of the Colonial Museum (now the Museum of New Zealand) in Wellington when he examined the first specimen found. The species was first scientifically\u00a0described in 1881 by zoologist Pierre Joseph van Beneden.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Hector’s Dolphin<\/p><\/div>\n
Thirty years ago the population was close to 30,000 animals but the dramatic impacts of human activity and pollution, particularly gillnets used in fishing has caused a dramatic decline in numbers to around 7,000.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The Banks Peninsular and Akaroa Harbour<\/p><\/div>\n
One of the best places to see Hector’s Dolphins is in Akaroa Harbour on the south island of New Zealand. The beautiful town of Akaroa is about an hour and half’s drive south of\u00a0Christchurch out on the Banks Peninsular.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Black Cat Cruises<\/p><\/div>\n
My great thanks to the wonderful crew of Black Cat Cruises for taking me out to see the Hectors and the beauty of Akaroa Harbour.<\/p>\n
Black Cat Cruises<\/strong> <\/p>\n
\nTo find out more about Black Cat\u00a0tours of\u00a0Akaroa and Lyttelton Harbours or their\u00a0Swimming with Dolphins please see their website\u00a0www.blackcat.co.nz (BCC)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n