The last thing that dusky dolphins need is significant disturbance in one of the few places they are safe from hunting. We are currently studying the impact of dolphin watching on the behaviour and distribution of dusky dolphins in Kaikoura. Resumption of commercial whaling on sperm whales is increasingly likely because of their reasonably healthy numbers. Yet the ecology of sperm whales is poorly understood. Nursery groups of females and calves are joined for a few days during the breeding season by very large males.
Smaller males spend their time roaming the ocean in loose bachelor schools, away from the females.
Because of the much larger size of males, whaling focussed on bachelor schools, such as those at Kaikoura. Ironically, it is these groups that are the least understood. We are studying the population structure, distribution and abundance of these animals, and are further refining methods of counting whales acoustically through analysis of their sounds. 926 Great South Road, Penrose, New Zealand.