The dolphin Pelorus Jack is first sighted…

1888 CE

The dolphin Pelorus Jack is first sighted in Cook Strait, New Zealand, around 1888 when it appears in front of the schooner Brindle when the ship approaches French Pass, a channel located between D'Urville Island and the South Island.

When the members of the crew see the dolphin bobbing up and down in front of the ship, they want to kill it, but the captain’s wife talks them out of it.

To their amazement, the dolphin then proceeds to guide the ship through the narrow channel.

For years hereafter, Jack will safely guide almost every ship that comes by.

With rocks and strong currents, the area is dangerous to ships, but no shipwrecks will occur when Jack is present.

Pelorus Jack will guide the ships by swimming alongside a water craft for twenty minutes at a time.

If the crew cannot see Jack at first, they will often wait for the dolphin to appear.

Despite Jack's name, the dolphin does not live in nearby Pelorus Sound but instead will often guide ships through dangerous passages of French Pass.

However, some local residents familiar with Jack's habits will claim that the dolphin never gioes through French Pass itself.

Pelorus Jack is approximately thirteen feet (four meters) long and is of a white color with grey lines or shadings, and a round, white head.

Although its sex will never be determined, it will be identified from photographs as a Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus.

This is an uncommon species in New Zealand waters, and only twelve Risso's dolphins will be reported in this area.

In 1904, someone aboard the SS Penguin will try to shoot Pelorus Jack with a rifle.

Despite the attempt on his life, Pelorus Jack will continue to help ships.

According to folklore, however, he no longer helped the Penguin, which shipwrecked in Cook Strait in 1909.

Following the shooting incident, a law will be proposed to protect Pelorus Jack, who will become protected by Order in Council under the Sea Fisheries Act on September 26, 1904.

Pelorus Jack, who will remain protected by that law until the dolphin disappears in 1912, is believed to be the first individual sea creature protected by law in any country

Many sailors and travelers will see Pelorus Jack, and the dolphin will be mentioned in local newspapers and depicted in postcards.

Jack will be last seen in April 1912.

There are various rumors connected to his disappearance, including fears that foreign whalers might have harpooned the dolphin.

However, research suggests that Pelorus Jack was an old animal; his head was white and his body pale, both indications of age, so it is likely that he died of natural causes.

From 1989, Pelorus Jack will be used as a symbol for the Interislander, a ferry service across the Cook Strait, and will be incorporated into the livery of the ships in the fleet.