March 30th we arrived in Dunedin (New Zealand) for a wildlife cruise in the Otago Peninsula.

Dunedin’s hills are espectacular, as they are part of an extinct shield volcano. We were met by our driver, a retired biology teacher, who took us to the the harbor in Waiwhakaheke Bay (which lies on a faultline), where we boarded a Monarch Wildlife cruise. Well equipped with binoculars, warm raincoats, blankets and a hot chocolate, the marine biologist and captain showed us New Zealand furseals (kekeno) sunbathing and swimming on a volcanic breeding rookery, white-capped and royal albatross (toroa) flying over Taiaroa Head, a blue penguin (korora) walking on the beach, white-fronted terns, Otago and little shags, black-billed gulls, giant petrel…

I want to believe we can save these animals. Please.