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Fernando is the scientific director of Fundacion Omacha – WWF Colombia’s partner in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. He works with a team of South American conservationists, leading a large programme of research and conservation in the area, which monitors river dolphin numbers, trains local scientists and promotes sustainable eco-tourism initiatives, such as river dolphin watching.

Currently, river dolphins are among the most endangered mammals. They inhabit some of the world’s largest river systems, mainly in developing countries, where a high density of human population is leading to a dramatic deterioration of these ecosystems. The main threats faced by river dolphins include negative interactions with fisheries, direct catches, habitat fragmentation due to the construction of dams, and multiple degradation factors such as deforestation, pollution and over-fishing.

Fernando said, ‘I became very interested in river dolphins when I was just starting my degree in marine biology in 1985 and I wanted to study big aquatic predators such as dolphins or sharks. Then I had the opportunity to meet the legendary Jacques Cousteau [the intrepid ocean explorer] during one conference about an expedition to the Amazon. He told me about river dolphins in the Amazon and the very little information about them.’

Fernando found a way to study these animals through the World Society for Animal Protection in Boston in 1986. He and his team travelled to Brazil to evaluate the threats to dolphins in the area. They found two different species: the Amazon river dolphin and Tucuxi. The indigenous people noted Trujillo’s enthusiasm and nicknamed him ‘Omacha’, in local folklore a dolphin who became a human. Trujillo embraced the name and transferred it to his non-governmental organisation when it was founded.

Fernando Trujillo has spent 20 years studying dolphins in the Amazon and has produced valuable scientific information leading to educational campaigns, conservation efforts and new, environmentally-friendly economic practices for local people.

The Whitley Fund for Nature recognises this valuable contribution and the award will help Trujillo to take his research even further.