‘Omacha’: explorer and marine biologist dedicates life to protecting Amazon river dolphins
Fernando Trujillo named the 2024 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year to honour his decades of conservation work for the species
Mountains, rainforests, the ocean – it is thanks to these critical systems that our planet has water, oxygen and a stable climate to meet our most basic needs for life on Earth. But these ecosystems are increasingly at risk due to global environmental challenges like climate change.
As explorers worldwide seek out a better understanding of our planet in order to protect it, standing alongside them is Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. From equipping the first adventurers who reached the summit of Mount Everest to enabling vital discoveries in the Amazon rainforest, the Swiss watchmaker has supported trailblazing expeditions for almost a century.
Today, its Perpetual Planet Initiative champions individuals and organisations working on solutions to the pressing problems that we are faced with across the globe.
One key partnership within the initiative is with the National Geographic Society. Rolex and the National Geographic Society are working together to support scientific research and expeditions that not only examine the threats facing the planet’s life-support systems, but also identify ways to resolve them.
Trujillo has dedicated his work to protecting the freshwater dolphins of the Amazon River. He has been studying these dolphins for over 30 years, tracking their migratory patterns and assessing the levels of mercury in their diet, which serves as a barometer for the overall health of the Amazon.
