| Dean Bernal visited Turks & Caicos Islands for
the first time in 1984 and after graduating in marine environmental studies
at the University of California, Santa Barbara
Dean settled in The Turks & Caicos Islands in 1986.
An avid ocean swimmer Dean came across
three small young dolphins on his first ocean swim. One of these dolphins - who Dean called JoJo -
started to follow him on his daily swims and soon
became Dean’s best friend.
In 1989 Dean was appointed as JoJo’s official warden
and JoJo was declared a National Treasure of the
Turks & Caicos Islands. Dean’s relationship and work
with JoJo has allowed him to become actively
involved around the world in securing the long-term
care and protection of other endangered lone
sociable dolphins.
Dean has campaigned and helped to create
thirty-three marine reserves, parks and sanctuaries
in the Turks & Caicos Islands. He created the Marine
Wildlife Foundation in 2000 as a California based
publicly supported non-profit organization to
conduct research and protect marine wildlife and
their habitats.
Dean has also been instrumental in campaigning
internationally to improve the education and
understanding about dolphins, whales, and their
environment. These campaigns have led to significant
changes in social awareness and to changes in laws
governing the welfare of dolphins and whales. |
