Pelorus Jack, the New Zealand Dolphin: Inspiring a Government to Protect an Individual Animal

"A sweet and vivid historical tale." Kirkus Reviews

"An appealing, historical tale of early twentieth-century wildlife conservation." Booklist Online

In the late 1800s, a worldwide conservation movement started to gain momentum. One question people asked was this: How can we save the wild animals?

A mysterious fish, in a remote waterway, swam into history and helped answer this question. Meet Pelorus Jack, the New Zealand dolphin who won the hearts of travelers and inspired a nation to protect him with legislation in 1904.

Pelorus Jack lived near French Pass, a notorious waterway in the South Island of New Zealand. With gorgeous, lifelike illustrations, this story transports readers to New Zealand's rugged shores where Pelorus Jack befriends sailors and locals in his role as guardian of the steam ships.

As his fame grew, though, so did the danger from collectors, hunters, and adventurers. How could people protect this amazing dolphin?