2024 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year Fernando Trujillo is being celebrated for his commitment to protecting the Amazon river dolphin and his work ensuring sustainable livelihoods for the local communities that depend on the river’s resources. — Jorge Panchoaga/National Geographic
Colombian marine biologist and world-renowned expert on river dolphins Fernando Trujillo has always felt a connection to animals and the water.
When he was a child, his grandfather would take him to the Orinoco River – an incredibly diverse body of water which winds its way from Venezuela and Colombia out into the Atlantic Ocean – a perfect place to find inspiration in the natural world.
It was on a trip to the Amazon River where Trujillo first met his lifelong love: the river dolphin, and since then he has dedicated his life to protecting them and making a difference to communities in the region.
Named the 2024 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year, Trujillo’s work combines scientific research with action to save this iconic species and care for the Amazon’s riverine communities.
The Explorer of the Year title recognises a member of the National Geographic Explorer community who shines a critical light on important issues, discoveries and challenges facing our planet and inspires the world to act towards a more sustainable future.
Individuals honoured with the title exemplify Rolex and National Geographic Society’s joint aims of using exploration, pioneering science and bold ideas to care for the environment and people in perpetuity.
A dolphin breaches in the Amazon River. As part of the Rolex and National Geographic Perpetual Planet Amazon Expedition, 2024 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year Fernando Trujillo found that there are more than 3,000 pink river dolphins and almost 4,000 grey dolphins in the region. — Fernando Trujillo/National Geographic
Rolex supports the award as part of its Perpetual Planet Initiative, which champions those who are at the forefront of finding solutions to the world’s environmental challenges.
For 70 years, Rolex has partnered with the National Geographic Society in their shared spirit of discovery and dedication to safeguarding the Earth for future generations.
Trujillo fully embodies these missions, fighting for the protection of Amazon river dolphins for more than three decades and committing himself to ensuring sustainable livelihoods for the local communities that depend on the river’s resources.
A dolphin that became human
Trujillo, who found himself captivated by river dolphins as a youth, found his calling in conservation during a university seminar.
He asked esteemed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau what he felt was an important study subject, and was met with a simple reply; dolphins.
“There are river dolphins in Colombia and nobody is doing anything to protect them,” Cousteau told him.
River dolphins are highly inquisitive creatures which dwell throughout the Amazon and are a critical part of its ecosystem.
Trujillo works with local communities in the Amazon to mitigate human-dolphin conflict. He has spent more than three decades committed to protecting Amazon river dolphins and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for the local communities that depend on the river’s resources. — Jorge Panchoaga/National Geographic
Their importance is well-recognised by indigenous communities, who view river dolphins as sacred, however despite their revered status, they are endangered, threatened by rising water temperatures, deforestation, pollution and conflict with fishermen.
When Trujillo began working in the Amazon at 19 years of age, an incident in which fishermen accidentally trapped a river dolphin and her calf drove him to set up a permanent base in the area.
Alongside his scientific endeavours, the leading expert in aquatic vertebrates – who also has a doctorate in zoology – has worked closely with regional governments and local communities to find solutions that benefit everyone.
This long-standing relationship was honoured by the indigenous Tikuna people, who named Trujillo “Omacha”, meaning a dolphin that became human.
Rolex and National Geographic celebrates Fernando Trujillo’s ongoing commitment to protecting the Amazon’s dolphins. By acting as a global advocate for river dolphins andgaining a deeper understanding of the ecosystems on which they depend, Trujillo is makingan impact that will continue through generations. — Estefania Rodriguez/National Geographic
Trujillo has also co-founded Fundacion Omacha, an organisation that promotes sustainable development and conserves aquatic ecosystems in Colombia, which performs a range of activities from developing fishing agreements to planting trees. Now its scientific director, Trujillo works with a team of conservationists to carry out scientific studies that are strengthening and improving river management practices and protections, as well as train other researchers and local people in conservation.
Trujillo is currently participating in the Rolex and National Geographic Perpetual Planet Amazon Expedition, exploring the ecosystem functions that keep the world’s largest freshwater basin alive.
His team is following the Amazon’s tributaries through seven rivers and across four countries, conducting health assessments of river dolphins as a barometer of river health to help identify critical areas to focus conservation efforts.
In 2023, Trujillo led a meeting on the global declaration for the protection of river dolphins and their rivers that resulted in 11 countries signing a first-of-its-kind declaration committing to develop research-based, transboundary solutions to protect river dolphins around the world. Through his tireless commitment to advocating for river dolphins and gaining a deeper understanding of the ecosystems on which they depend, Trujillo is making an impact that will continue across generations.
A truly deserving recipient of the Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year Award, Trujillo shows what one pioneering leader can achieve to help create a perpetual planet for us all.
