SAVING AN ICONIC SPECIES

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.