Pelorus Jack, was a Risso’s dolphin that accompanied ships travelling between Wellington and Nelson. He would meet boats at the entrance to Pelorus Sound, in the Marlborough Sounds. First noticed in 1888 when he joined a steamer bound for Nelson, Pelorus Jack spent the next 24 years escorting boats from Pelorus Sound to French Pass. He was the first dolphin in the world to be protected by law.
Pelorus Jack can be seen as symbol of a positive relationship between people and nature. But also the history of the Marlborough Sounds was one of exploitation and unsustainable land use. The objective of the Pelorus Jack Consultancy is to help restore the positive relationship between the sustainable use of natural resources and providing for the needs of local communities. .