A central-city Auckland beach has become an unlikely first aid station for dolphins and whales this weekend as part of a Project Jonah training programme.
The rescue group is using artificial whales and dolphins at Kohimarama beach to teach volunteers how to best care for, and hopefully save, stranded dolphins and whales this summer.
The aim is for 68 volunteers to become "marine mammal medics", capable of responding to whale and dolphin stranding's in their local areas and know who to call for more help if a mass stranding occurs.
“Volunteers who train with us will go on our national database and when there’s a stranding, and if their help is required, we can mobilise them to the beach,” said Louisa Hawkes, Project Jonah’s communications and volunteer co-ordinator.
Aotearoa New Zealand has one of the highest stranding rates in the world. The largest in recent history was the stranding of 600 pilot whales at Farewell Spit in 2017.
Just two weeks ago, a large sperm whale beached at Christchurch’s South Brighton Beach, attracting a large crowd of onlookers. The rare 15-metre-long whale did not survive.
Project Jonah says its training attempts to prepare volunteers for all scenarios they may face at a rescue scene.
“Responding to a stranding is a really personal experience for volunteers and often depends on they’re bringing to the stranding or what’s been happening in their day as to how they respond,” Hawkes said.
“Some people are really upset when the whales pass away and so we provide care and look after them throughout that grieving process.”
Training to become a Marine Mammal Medic includes learning in the classroom and at the beach.
The volunteers practised moving artificial dolphins and whales - inflated with water to the same weight as a live one. They also practised cooling techniques and getting the mammals onto slings and carrying them.
Volunteers spoke to 1News, saying they found the course useful and wanted to know how to do the right things if they attended a stranding.
Advice to the public is to stay away from the tail of a stranded dolphin or whale and never pour water down its blowhole.
“When they’re looking after the whales we want to keep them cool, calm and comfortable,” Hawkes said.
“So that means cooling them down if it’s a sunny day, keeping their skin nice and shiny and keeping the site nice and calm.”
Project Jonah says those not directly involved in a rescue can also help by bringing kai and blankets to the rescue site for volunteers, along with sheets and buckets to keep the mammals cool.
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