Dean Bernal visited Turks & Caicos Islands for the first time in 1984. During his fi rst swim in the ocean, he came across three small young dolphins… One of these dolphins - who Dean called JoJo - started to follow him on his daily swims and soon became Dean’s best friend. After graduating in Marine environmental studies at the University of California - Santa Barbara, Dean settled in The Turks & Caicos Islands in 1986.
In 1989 Dean was appointed as JoJo’s offi cial 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 33 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-profi t 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 signifi cant changes in social awareness and to changes in laws governing the welfare of dolphins and whales.