We may never know how Moko died

Photo: Murray Wilson

Moko's body arriving at Massey University on Friday.

Photo: The Gisborne Herald.

Moko plays bodyboard tag With Jessie Burke at Waikanae Beach.

Relevant offers

National News

Dad jailed over child abuse that shocked NZ Person dies after being hit by train Natural burial traumatises family Assets protester jumps gun on Peters Murder charge after body found Burial traumatises family Drink-driving Jon Gadsby avoids jail 17-year sentence for making methamphetamine Canterbury quakes, Pike River reports delayed Whanau Ora 'a waste of money'

A post-mortem examination continues today to determine the cause of death of Moko the fun-loving dolphin, but an international expert on the species says it may never be known what killed him.

Wade Doak said Moko's body appears to be too decomposed to definitively say what killed him, but if he had been struck by a boat propeller it would be obvious.

He said, however, that a likely cause of death would be drowning from set nets and he has urged New Zealand lawmakers to ban them.

"Moko left behind such a rich heritage," he said.

Few solitary dolphins had developed such "creative ways to interact with humans". He called for a sculpture to be created to honour Moko, as the famous dolphin Opo has been immortalised in Opononi.

Moko – who charmed locals and tourists alike with his cheeky boogie board-stealing antics – was found dead on Matakana Island, near Mt Maunganui, last week.

His remains were sent to Palmerston North on Friday to be examined by Massey University marine mammal pathologists. Examinations continue today.

Moko was first spotted by Mahia resident Bill Shortt when he popped out of the water near his boat. He had recently moved further north, away from his minders, prompting fears for his safety.

Doak said Moko was special because he developed many games to play with humans and would bring swimmers a variety of fish species as gifts.

"He broke the record with the number of gifts that he gave people. In that way, I sort of felt that even at his young age he was quite exceptional."

Doak said Moko made history when he helped guide an adult pygmy sperm whale and her calf back to sea in 2008 after they nearly beached themselves.

"This is only a young dolphin – that really did impress me. There have been some scientists who question the value of rescuing whales that have beached themselves. Well, if our species was not prepared to save whales, Moko was."

New Zealand was among the best countries in the world at caring for solitary dolphins like Moko, he said. He encouraged the appointment of minders for dolphins, such as the ones who cared for Moko in Gisborne and Whakatane.

Sadly he hadn't been around Tauranga for long enough to have an established carer in that area.

Doak suggested our shores would see more friendly solitary dolphins like Moko and we needed to learn from this experience how best to look after what he calls our "closest brain neighbours".

- © Fairfax NZ News