D Wednesday, January 20, 2010 News Was he playing with trapped canoeists... or was he doing it on porpoise? Fugitive: Moko saved a pair of beached whales in 2008 but is now fleeing justice after netting complaints HE had been driving people flipping mad for too long. Eventually, some fin had to give... Bottlenose dolphin Moko is the mammal who likes to mug surfers but it would appear he has finally bitten off more than he can chew. He has spent the last three years swimming among bathers off Mahia beach on the coast of New Zealand, becoming something of a celebrity for his antics, stealing surfboards and body-slamming humans. But the boisterous dolphin, who became famous after his heroic rescue of two beached whales in March 2008, got a taste of his own medicine last week when a canoeist hit him with an oar. Moko fled his usual spot on North Islands east coast, swimming 100km (60 miles) north towards Whale Is- land in the Bay of Plenty. The Department of Conservation is now looking for a woman who was in a traditional Maori canoe, who is believed to be behind the attack. Under New Zealand law she could be slapped with a fine up to 128,000. Moko is alleged to have tried to stop a number of rowers in Maori-style canoes from heading back to shore Over just one week this summer, six people needed rescuing by lifesavers, including two 12-year-old girls who were both injured when Moko mugged them for their surfboards. A 16-year-old surfer was also stranded far offshore after he too ended up boardless and an exhausted fe- male swimmer feared she would drown after the dolphin refused to let her return to shore. Mokos behaviour was that of a very lonely bottlenose who loves human contact but is getting way too big and strong for it, said marine scientist Prof Mark Orams. Hes seeking something from humans that he should be getting from other dolphins and while people keep seeing him as a human plaything, that wont change. Although he may be sulking since the attack, Moko has since been spot- ted happily playing in his new neigh- bourhood. Police, meanwhile, are continuing to investigate the alleged oar attack. By Ross McGuinness Fin and games: The three-year-old loves playing with people even those trying to roe away Pictures: Caters Mugger dolphin goes on the run A lonely bottlenose who loves human contact index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html