Moko

Moko was a male bottlenose dolphin who gained international fame in 2008 for saving two stranded pygmy sperm whales. He intervened and successfully guided the confused mother and calf off Mahia Beach back into open water. Human rescuers were about to give up before Moko seemingly communicated with the whales and led them to safety.

Moko was famously resident along the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. He was most frequently spotted interacting with swimmers and beachgoers near the town of Mahia. Unlike wild dolphins that migrate constantly, Moko chose to stay in this small coastal region to be near humans.

No, Moko was primarily a solitary dolphin who preferred human company over his own kind. He was known to frequent the shallow coastal waters of Mahia to play with locals on a daily basis. This solitary behavior eventually raised safety concerns for both the dolphin and the public.

Moko's body was tragically found washed ashore on a beach near Gisborne in 2010. His death deeply saddened the local community that had bonded with him over the years. Autopsy results indicated he likely died from natural causes rather than human interference.