ICYMI: Westford College Student Helps Save Dolphins

Photo: Students (from left to right) Lindsay Gotts, Guy Scuderi, Jessica Caccioppoli, Lukas Hunker.

Editor's Note: Worcester Polytechnic Institute student Lukas Hunker traveled to New Zealand to help save the almost-extinct Maui dolphin. Here's the full story, in case you missed it. 

WESTFORD, MA - A Westford native and student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is working to save the world one dolphin at a time.

Lukas Hunker, a senior studying computer science, had the opportunity to travel to New Zealand last winter, where WPI operates one of 45 project centers internationally that challenge students to address world issues using their technical skills.

The purpose of the trip was to gain insight into the plight of the Maui dolphin. The species is almost extinct and plays a huge role in the culture of local indigenous people.

Hunker said talking to local people about the problem was the most gratifying part of his trip. The indigenous people around the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand believe they were carried to their homeland by the Maui dolphin.

"[One indigenous person] told me 'if the Maui dolphin dies a piece of us dies as well,'" Hunker told Patch.

Hunker and three fellow students spoke with local fishermen, New Zealand Department of Conservation, environmentalists, seabed mining interests and others to find out why the beloved dolphin is dying out.

"Everybody told us a different story," Hunker said.

Hunker said fishing nets appeared to be the biggest threat, but orca predation, sonic activity from oil exploration and a bacteria that is found in cat feces could all be contributing factors.

There are some restrictions on where fishermen can and cannot cast nets in the Maui dolphin's territory but the subject has been a huge source of contention, according to Hunker.

Hunker said the best thing that people can do is report sightings of the dolphin so the local government has a better idea of where fishing restrictions should be in place.

The students recently published a children's book that addresses the problem which will be distributed in New Zealand schools. The book educates children about the Maui dolphin and tells them what they can do to help.

The New Zealand Department of Conservation is giving out free copies of the book, titled "Meet the Maui," toanyone who reports a sighting through the end of the month. Money from sales of the book will go directly back into the DOC.