Imagine that your ship is lost in the middle of the New Zealand's Pelorus Sound, a waterway. You need to get to the French Pass.There is no GPS, barely any maps, and no knowledgeable person to guide you. Your crew is starting to lose hope, and you are desperate to have some instructions to guide you. But then all of a sudden, a dolphin surges up ahead of you.You start to follow the dolphin because you have no other option, and he navigates you to the French Pass. When he leaves you, you realize that he is your savior.
This isn't fiction; this is true! Pelorus Jack is the name of a Risso's dolphin (living in New Zealand) that helped ships navigate from Pelorus Sound to the deadly French Pass. The water in the French Pass is capable of reaching a speed of eight knots. However, Pelorus Jack never went through the French Pass itself. He was first noticed in 1888. The dolphin loved to swim along boats and ride their bow waves.
As the years passed, Pelorus Jack's popularity grew. But in the early 1900's, someone shot him. Fortunately, he survived. This led to people wanting Pelorus Jack to be protected by law. So in 1904, an order in the council stated that this dolphin be protected by law. In fact, he was the first dolphin to be protected by the government. By then, Pelorus Jack had become a tourist attraction.
But when the admired dolphin died, nobody knew what had happened. The most likely cause was of old age-the dolphin was 24 years old. However, years after his death, Pelorus Jack still remains one the most famous dolphins.
Most people believe that primates are the smartest animals on the Earth. But Pelorus Jack displays that dolphins too rival the intelligence of primates. He also displays selflessness, a trait rarely seen in humans.
If you want to see this incredible dolphin in action, see this quick video: Pelorus Jack Video
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