All’s Well That Ends Well for Stolen Whale Rescue Trailer

Whale rescue charity Project Jonah New Zealand has good news, now finding itself one whale rescue trailer up rather than one trailer down, one week after a trailer was stolen from its rooftop car park on Dominion Road, Auckland.

After the theft on Thursday 11 October, the organisation put a call out to the public for urgent help to locate the newly bought trailer, including several radio bulletins and a post on the Project Jonah Facebook page. There was a positive response from the public and the Facebook post was shared over 500 times.

Police this week raided a house in Otahuhu, South Auckland, and recovered the rescue trailer, which had been stripped of its noticeable orange and blue Project Jonah signage. The man arrested was a known criminal and was in possession of other stolen property.

Project Jonah is a registered charity that exists to help marine mammals including dolphins and whales. The trailer is one of four used to transport equipment to sites around New Zealand during whale stranding emergencies. Project Jonah relies on goodwill, donations and volunteers to be able to continue its work.

During the week the trailer was missing two companies came forward to make valuable donations to Project Jonah in response to the trailer theft. Errol and Jenny Bird at Pinto Trailers offered a replacement trailer, and are still going ahead with the donation, meaning Project Jonah now has one more trailer than previously.

Errol Bird explains, “We think Project Jonah is a very good cause. We know how much volunteer work goes into it and we want to support that.”

Laura and Rhys Henderson at Graphic Creations Ltd are donating sign-writing services to the cause.

“It’s a great cause and when we heard the news we were more than happy to help out,” says Rhys Henderson.

Project Jonah CEO Kimberly Muncaster is overjoyed with the result. She explains, “Instead of being one trailer short, we now have one more to use for the busy stranding season which is coming up. This is the best outcome we could have hoped for and we are very grateful to those who have stepped up to help us out. It is only with such dedicated supporters that we are able to do the vital work we do.”

If you would like to make a donation to Project Jonah go to www.projectjonah.org.nz

Project Jonah Stranding Hotline 0800 4 WHALE (0800 494 253)

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