Black Cat is proud to support 15 year old Aescleah Hawkins on her inspiring 42km walk from Christchurch to Akaroa to raise funds and awareness of the rare and beautiful Hector’s dolphins.
The walk takes place 4th to 6th of March 2010.
Aescleah decided that more people should know the story about Hector’s dolphins and their fight for survival. Fewer than 7000 of New Zealand’s only native dolphins exist, making them an endangered species.
Although there is a marine mammal sanctuary around Banks Peninsula, the population of dolphins is reducing by about 1% per year.
With adequate steps we can not only arrest this decline but see the dolphins come back to their historic high numbers. It's estimated there used to be 30,000 Hectors around New Zealand.
By far the greatest risk to the dolphins is being accidentally caught by set nets and we believe the dolphins need greater protection by extending the current set net restrictions. In fact the current restrictions are being challenged by the fishing industry!
All money raised will go to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) who have a stop their extinction programme.
We are supporting the walk by donating transport for all 12 walkers from Lyttelton to Diamond Harbour and Akaroa to Wainui.
We also have donation boxes on our vessels and our shops. And our Managing Director, Paul Bingham, is walking with Aescleah and 11 others.
And to raise money we have put together an on line auction via TradeMe with all proceeds going to the Walk for Hector's fund.
Thanks to all these companies who have helped make this Auction possible:
Up Up and Away, Whalewatch Kaikoura, Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve, Real Journeys, International Antarctic Centre, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, Encounter Kaikoura, Orana Wildlife Park and Southern Encounter Aquarium & Kiwi House.
Walk For Hector’s 4 - 6th March 2010
There are three easy ways you can support our fundraising efforts for the endangered Hector’s dolphin. Donate by clicking on the orange button below; bid on any of our TradeMe auctions listed on the right of the page, or join the last km of Aescleah’s walk – into Akaroa on Saturday, March 6th. You can also contribute to the WWF’s Hector’s Dolphin fund by taking part in a 1 hour walk in Christchurch’s Barnett Park on Saturday, March 6th.
The greatest danger for Hector’s Dolphins is being tangled in gill fishing nets and trawling around the New Zealand coastline. Fishing kills Hector’s dolphins at least 10x faster than they can breed. Female Hector’s and Maui dolphins only breed once they are 7-9 years old and then only have a single calf every 2-4 years, making them highly vulnerable to extinction.
Christchurch Girl Saves Endangered Hector’s Dolphins
