Based in the Greater Hobart area, the crew is part of a Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment initiative within the Marine Mammal Conservation Program.

The team prides itself on being the first to react when Southern Ocean animals become beached, entangled in netting, or require any other immediate help.

It’s a full-time job that requires those involved to be ready and on alert at all hours of the day and night.

But it is the group’s unique beginning that generates the most intrigue.

Long before Princess Mary of Denmark, Tasmanian woman Pauline Curran left Hobart and fell in love with an exiled Russian prince – Maximilian Melikoff – who was working as a taxi driver in the UK.

They married in 1926.

While it sounds like the plot to a whacky Australian comedy film, the royal couple’s marriage spelt the beginning of the Marine Mammal Conservation Program.

Upon Princess Melikoff’s death in 1988, the passionate wildlife advocate left her fortune to Greenpeace and DPIPWE.

Her will still funds the project to this day.

Fast forward almost two decades and conservation team leader Dr Rachael Alderman hails her job as one of the most rewarding experiences of her life.

‘‘It can be quite a challenge,’’ she said.

‘‘We certainly have very frequent single animals who are alive or dead and we go to each of those. Recently we’ve responded to quite a few elephant seals in public places, like beaches – it’s ongoing.

‘‘We get a few sperm whales. You can’t really move them, so it becomes more about palliative care than anything else.

‘‘We’re all passionate about our job and we love what we do, and for that reason it’s never really a burden.’’

The group focuses on three key areas – incident response, monitoring programs and hotline services.

‘‘Whale incidents, seals and whales in danger, whatever it is, we do our best to get involved and deal with the situation.

‘‘You can’t predict any of it, but that’s why we have our hotlines.

‘‘The hotline serves two functions – first and foremost we want to know if there’s an incident, like if a whale is stranded, so we can see if we can mount an immediate response.

‘‘Time is definitely of the essence.’’

Dr Alderman said following a call to the hotline from the public, a team member would head to the scene immediately.

From there, a decision will be made whether or not to rescue, remove or monitor the animal.

‘‘Anything dead we actively collect as much information about it as we can to understand how and why.

‘‘A lot of our mammal monitoring is geared on understanding how populations are recovering, but also trying to actively understand what’s threatening their recovery.

‘‘We have a lot of specialist gear that we’ve been provided over the years. 

‘‘It’s an amazing situation to be in.

‘‘The program’s consistency has allowed us to gain expertise and acquire excellent equipment.’’

Princess Melikoff’s core values remain at the heart of the group’s work, however.

‘‘All our research, monitoring and outreach activities are about delivering upon her wishes and fulfilling her legacy,’’ Dr Alderman said.

‘‘Luckily, we haven’t had a stranded whale in about two years – that’s one of the things we’re really proud of.’’