Each year, hundreds of whales and dolphins strand on our shores. Whilst some are sick or injured, others are healthy and just need a helping hand back out to sea. Whilst we can’t predict the exact timing and location of strandings in New Zealand, our job is to be as prepared as possible. No matter what time of day, where the stranding occurs, or how difficult the conditions, Project Jonah, DoC Staff and volunteers are ready to offer lifesaving support.
Project Jonah works on the ground to deliver essential first aid to stranded or injured marine mammals.
RescueThey deliver essential first aid to stranded or injured animals via our nationwide network of trained and passionate Marine Mammal Medics.
Action Through their public education and awareness campaigns they inform and educate people, and encourage them to get involved.
Protection They act as a watchdog to expose marine mammal suffering and help create and enforce laws that will protect these animals.
Saving whales isn’t as easy as it looks and successful rescue often depends on properly trained volunteers.
You can become a Marine Mammal Medic with Project Jonah’s one day course. You’ll learn about the evolution and anatomy of dolphins and whales, their behaviour, social structures and some of the reasons they may strand. You will learn about stranding rescue techniques – what to do and what not to do at a stranding.
After lunch you get to hit the beach and put your new-found knowledge and skills to the test. Practice basic first aid on their life size inflatable whale and get to grips with rescue equipment such as dolphin lifting mats and Project Jonah’s very own whale rescue pontoons.
Project Jonah have 2 Marine Mammal Medic Courses in Wellington this month on the 24th & 25th of November so you too can get involved.
Visit Project Jonah to find out more.
Claire completed her course in 2008 and had a great time and learnt some stuff as well 🙂 The theory was interesting and the instructors had all had experiences out in the field which is sad for the animals but great for the students as we could ask lots of questions. The practical side of the course was fun and a little like hard work! Fortunately for our local animals and our visitors Claire has never attended an actual stranding.
New Zealand has the highest stranding rate in the world but we also have the highest rescue success rate thanks to Project Jonah, DoC and the volunteers. Project Jonah have pioneered ways of rescuing whales and have shared this technology and expertise with the rest of the world. They have equipped everyday New Zealanders with the basic skills needed to rescue stranded dolphins and whales which has saved thousands of animals.