In a bid to bolster marine mammal rescue efforts, a freshly trained group of volunteers are now equipped with the vital skills needed to save stranded whales and dolphins.

Project Jonah ran Marine Mammal Medic training sessions over the weekend at Sulphur Point, Tauranga, with around 35 people being trained across the two classes on Saturday and Sunday.

Utilising life-size, life-weight inflatable models, participants were immersed in hands-on scenarios, preparing them to respond effectively to real-life emergencies along NZ’s coastal regions.

Project Jonah marine mammal medic training session at Sulphur Point, Tauranga. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

This innovative approach not only enhances preparedness but also underscores the organisation’s commitment to safeguarding these majestic creatures and their ocean habitats.

The Project Jonah team has been traveling around the country to host these trainings for local volunteers, with the goal to increase the number of volunteers who can respond to strandings.

“We come to Tauranga once a year,” says Project Jonah General Manager Daren Grover.

“The more people we train, the more people can be available.”

Project Jonah marine mammal medic training session at Sulphur Point, Tauranga. Photo: Project Jonah.

The Project Jonah national office is in Nelson, with six trainers in Tauranga across three days of training.  Three of the trainers came from Nelson, and one each from Wellington, Auckland and Northland.

The trainers ran a class with marine students from Toi Ohomai on Thursday, followed by the two sessions for the public at Sulphur Point on Saturday and Sunday.

“We're always looking to get more people from the community involved and we usually catch some spectators taking photos mistaking them for real marine mammals from afar."

Returning whales to the water isn't as simple as it sounds and a successful rescue often depends on properly trained volunteers. Project Jonah has pioneered whale rescue techniques, and have shared this technology and expertise with the rest of the world. 

Project Jonah marine mammal medic training session at Sulphur Point, Tauranga. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

The whale and dolphin ‘models’ used are life-size and life-weight giving the soon-to-be medics an important lesson.

“We fill them with water to give people as real experience as possible when responding in the future,” says Daren.

“My dream goal is for every kiwi to know what to do if they find a stranded whale or dolphin on the beach.”

He says there are around 300 stranding incidents each year across New Zealand.

“These include single animal strandings, and dead whales when they come ashore.”

Currently Project Jonah has over 5000 people in their database they can call on, spread up and down the country, but Daren is keen for every Kiwi to learn the skills required to help.

“When there is a stranding we can reach out to our marine mammal medics, and they are first responders on site, and can work while we mobilise a full response.”

He says Golden Bay, Farewell Spit is a global “hot spot” for whale strandings. With a low human population in the area, and the isolated location, it can take at least two hours to drive to where the whales may be stranded.

In the North Island, Mahia peninsula between Gisborne and Napier, and coastal locations in Northland have both had a higher frequency of strandings than other North Island places.

Project Jonah marine mammal medic training session at Sulphur Point, Tauranga. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

The Project Jonah team travels around New Zealand through the summer months, from late September through to April. Their next training sessions will be at Tutukaka Coast (Ngunguru) on Saturday, April 13, and Kerikeri on Sunday, April 14.

“These training sessions expand our roster of volunteer Marine Mammal Medics to respond to whale and dolphin strandings in their area, or to call on during the crisis of a mass stranding incident.”

The next training session in Tauranga is scheduled for March, 2025.

Daren says anyone can become part of Project Jonah, or follow them on Facebook.

“If you have any concerns for whales or dolphins, immediately phone for help. We operate a 24-hour hotline.”

Project Jonah 24 Hour Stranding Hotline - 0800 4 WHALE (0800 4 94253)
DOC Stranding Hotline - 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)

Daren says many phone calls are from people confusing seals with whales and dolphins.

For more about Project Jonah, their mission and the one-day medic training course to go www.projectjonah.org.nz/medic/

To help with fundraising to support whale stranding response and rescue efforts click here

Project Jonah marine mammal medic training session at Sulphur Point, Tauranga. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.