The yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) is endemic to (found only in) New Zealand. In Māori, the species is known as hoiho. Despite numerous threats to this endangered species—including invasive species, habitat destruction, disease, entanglement in fishing gear and climate change—conservation organizations are working to decrease the effects of threats and advocate for the species…
The southern fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri), or New Zealand fur seal, is known in Māori (the language spoken by indigenous population of New Zealand) as kekeno. European sealing for meat and pelts in the 18th and 19th centuries pushed them to the brink of extinction, but conservation efforts have helped southern fur seal populations recover…
Dusky dolphins are small cetaceans found in coastal waters in multiple regions of the Southern Hemisphere. They are known for extraordinary aerial acrobatics and often form large groups when feeding, sometimes including hundreds of individuals. Being on a boat, surrounded by leaping and flipping dusky dolphins was an incomparable, spectacular experience. I had to put the camera and notebook down, take a step back, and take it all in…