While in El Golfo, I visited the local high school to show video and photos to students of vaquita that I filmed only a few days earlier. Unbelievably, it was the first time anyone had visited them and their school to talk about the vaquita.

Today I joined Catalina Lopez Sagástegui of Noroeste Sustentable (NOS). Their mission is to “construct and implement a long term vision for the region’s sustainable development through a political and social agreement”.

Lorenzo Rojas Bracho has been the ‘voice for vaquita’ for many years. He is redefining what a ‘scientist’ is in an era full of critical conservation issues for marine mammals.

I never dreamed I would be in a position to even see vaquita, let alone film the animal in the wild. The stage was set, perfect weather for seeing vaquita.

Scientist Barb Taylor asked me to join a team from the RV David Starr Jordan to document what was happening 5 miles away. Bob Pitman sighted a marine mammal on the “big-eyes” moving erratically.

Today, I had the opportunity to join the “Corsair”, a tri-maran sailing out of San Felipe everyday to search for vaquita. Rather than posting visual observers to find the animals, researchers are listening for the vocalizations underwater.

After settling into the rhythm of San Felipe, adjusting to the heat and pace of this sleepy seaside town, I am spending most of my time with Tom Jefferson and his team, researchers Paula Olson and Tom Kieckhefer.

Today is the beginning of my journey to search for and document the vaquita – the world’s smallest and most endangered cetacean (whale, dolphin or porpoise).

The documentary series – Whales of the Mediterranean Sea – will be shown at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, Wednesday October 8, 2008 at 4:10pm.

WHALE TRACKERS is a series of documentary programs that journey across the world’s oceans to explore the lives of whales, dolphins and porpoises.
We join international scientists on expedition investigating and shedding new light on the mysteries of these animals and their struggles for survival in a rapidly changing world.
WHALE TRACKERS examines how we can [...]

The film “Sperm Whales of Greece – Life in the Trenches” is an official selection at the 2008 EcoFilms environmental film festival in Rhodos, Greece.

Chris Johnson of earthOCEAN is named to the board of directors of Filmmakers for Conservation (FFC) – a non-profit organization “using the power of film and media to conserve our natural world”. FFC is the global conservation organisation and charity for the wildlife film and television industry.

With experience combining new media, wildlife and conservation filmmaking, Chris [...]

What an epic journey the past few months have been. After travelling thousands of kilometers by plane, bus, car, train and by boat filming in Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Denmark, I am back in Melbourne, reviewing tapes, writing and beginning to edit the first components of ‘Whales of an Ancient Sea”.

Making of “Southern Right Whales of Argentina – Part 3″. Mobility was our constant theme in this project. We have had a lot of experience with producing short documentaries with limited equipment and resources using minimal field equipment.

The Making of “Southern Right Whales of Argentina” – Part 2
Before filming or taking pictures of wildlife, it is important to do your research thoroughly, know the right seasons to go, and talk to the right people who are the experts in the field.