Dean Bernal has been likened to “a cross between Dian Fossey, Jane Goodall, and Crocodile Dundee”. Excerpts from the story of Dean and JOJO have been featured in countless books, TV specials and movies including the Academy Award nominated IMAX film Dolphins, narrated by Pierce Brosnan, two PBS specials: In the Wild: Dolphins with Robin Williams, and Dolphins: Close Encounters with George Page, and they were featured on Peter Jennings’ World News Tonight. BBC, Cousteau and Nature specials have also featured excerpts of their story.
Dean has even received letters praising his conservation work from the British Royal Family. His work has appeared in such magazines as Cousteau, Esquire, Discover, People, GEO, National Geographic books, and National Geographic Magazine. Parts of Dean and JoJo’s story have also been published with Jane Goodall, Tim Cahill, Cynthia Moss, Hermann Sülberg, and Johanna Weland and also published in numerous other quality publications.
Dean Bernal was raised in California coastal communities and graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dean first visited the Turks and Caicos Islands in 1984. Three small sociable dolphins swam in the shallow coastal waters. One would become known as JoJo and befriended by Dean. The life of JoJo seems legendary, but their story is created directly from the observations, and research recorded by Dean Bernal on his amazing and heart warming journeys with JoJo.
Dean created The Marine Wildlife Foundation to protect lone dolphins like JoJo by providing legal protection, medical attention, public education and research, leading to a better understanding of these unique creatures. JoJo was declared a National Treasure of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and JoJo’s caretaker and friend, Dean, was appointed his official warden in order to protect the dolphin. Dean continues his work and is now on a mission to fulfill the mission of JOJO, The Dolphin Legacy.
Dean Bernal is an environmental spokesperson, film producer and wildlife advocate, Projects coinciding with this film include: JoJo, A Dolphin’s Legacy book, Whale and Dolphin Expedition Programs, a children's book; The Dean and JoJo Children’s Story, a Children’s Enrichment Therapy Program and a JoJo Collection product line.
Dean has been a keynote speaker and lecturer at numerous colleges and universities, film premieres, and at the Royal Geographic Society in London. He has participated in lecture series with film promotions with the adventure write Tim Cahill, underwater explorer Jennifer Carter, marine biologist Eugenie Clark, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Sylvia Earle, Virginia McKenna, Richard Ellis, Chris Newbert & Birgitte Wilms, Roger Payne, Bob Talbot, Stan Waterman, Wyland, and many others.