Holly Lohuis Assistant Producer/Research

Strangest animal I encountered

I swam with pink river dolphins at Ariaú Amazon Towers. I’m familiar with different dolphin species, but these dolphins look so different! And they have these beady little eyes and this bulbous melon or forehead which is used to produce sound waves. When these waves echo back from an object, the dolphin can tell many things about the object and the surrounding environment. Because of the limited visibility it was hard to see them at a distance. Even when underwater with them, I was not able to see them until they were right next to me. The locals feed the dolphins we swam with, so they are used to people being in the water with them, but I still was intimated at first because they are wild animals with very sharp teeth and can indeed bite people. But even with no free handouts to feed them, the dolphins still swam close, bumping right into me. It was an experience I will never forget!

HOLLY LOHUIS, EXPEDITION TEAM MEMBER AND EDUCATION ASSOCIATE

Lohuis is a marine biologist and naturalist, with expertise in both coral reef and Channel Islands ecology. With a degree in marine biology from the University of California at Santa Barbara, Lohuis has educated thousands of children about the wonders of the marine world and the need to protect them. A member of Jean-Michel Cousteau's team for more than a decade, Holly is involved with educational outreach and the expedition team, serving as a key liaison between the expedition team and scientists and responsible for confirming factual accuracy of the film’s content. Lohuis, her husband Derek, and their four-year-old son Gavin make their home in Carpinteria, California, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.