First Responders of the Coast: Mobilising Communities to Save Stranded Whales (with Daren Grover)

Written By Callum Armstrong

(Note: you can also listen to this episode on YouTube or Spotify)

What happens when a whale or dolphin strands on a New Zealand beach? For over 50 years, Project Jonah has been the lifeline for these marine mammals in distress, pioneering rescue techniques that have contributed to global standards.

Daren Grover, Project Jonah’s General Manager, reveals how this organisation evolved from successfully campaigning against the whaling industry in the 1970s to becoming leaders in marine mammal rescue. Through their nationwide network of 1000s of trained volunteers, Project Jonah is able to mobilise rapid responses to approximately 300 strandings every year

From the unique "whale trap" geography of Farewell Spit to the impacts of climate change on stranding patterns, Daren shares insights into why these events occur and how proper assessment and methodical response significantly improves welfare outcomes for stranded marine mammals.

Beyond rescue operations, Project Jonah's work addresses broader conservation challenges. Daren outlines how everyday decisions - from responsible boating to reducing plastic waste - directly affects marine mammal welfare. He emphasises that conservation means "understanding our impacts and choosing to respond positively." 

Here are some of the key topics we discussed:

  • Project Jonah's remarkable 50-year evolution from campaigning against commercial whaling to pioneering marine mammal rescue approaches.

  • The diverse range of natural and human-induced causes behind cetacean strandings.

  • Why New Zealand's Farewell Spit has earned its reputation as a geographical "whale trap".

  • The critical actions that first responders take when they arrive at strandings.

  • Project Jonah’s marine mammal medic training programme.

  • How Project Jonah mobilises its network of trained volunteers throughout the country when strandings are reported.

  • How stranding patterns are becoming less predictable with climate change.

  • The intriguing possibility of AI decoding whale communication in the coming years.

  • Simple actions anyone can take to support marine mammal conservation.

👩 About Daren:

Daren Grover is the General Manager of Project Jonah, the marine mammal welfare charity saving whales and dolphins in New Zealand. Daren is an expert in marine mammal stranding response, with hands-on experience in mass stranding events and extensive emergency management training.

He collaborates closely with New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, providing field support and staff training to uphold best practices. A dedicated educator, Daren trains several hundred volunteers annually, strengthening NZ's national stranding response network. His leadership spans operational logistics, welfare strategies, and multi-agency coordination for mass stranding events.

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🎙️About the podcast:

The People Helping Nature podcast is brought to you by Conservation Amplified, a registered New Zealand charity that’s on a mission to make biodiversity conservation mainstream.

We do this by bringing a megaphone to the world of conservation by featuring people from all walks of life who are doing interesting and important things to help nature thrive. We aim to make it easy for everyone to learn, understand, take action, and feel like they’re a part of the solution.

Find out more about Conservation Amplified at www.conservationamplified.org.

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Callum Armstrong
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