Pablo Lobo & Gian Paolo Sanino

Pablo's main interests are marine Mammals, life in nature, diving, environmental issues, international affairs, photography, arts, history, wine, cuisine and good conversations. Pablo is focused in developing sustainable Ecotour programs that contribute effectively to protect ecosystems and wildlife with respect to local communities and shows deep concern with growing tendency to label virtually any outdoor activity as "ecological", "green" or as "ecotourism". He collaborates with marine mammal scientists and is aware of the many obstacles and problems confronted in Chile. He hopes to contribute effectively by integrating ecotourism with real life science and revenue share to be reinvested back to research and conservation. He hopes more visitors will come share these efforts and benefit from these unique and unforgettable learning experiences.

Pablo was born in Santiago in 1968 and grew up and lived in Maryland from 1970 to 1982. He then lived in Rio de Janeiro and Quito, before returning to Chile in 1986. He`s thoroughly enjoyed each place and highly recommends living in South America where nature and civilization are all easily at hand! He returned to Chile where he completed studies in Social Communications and Professional Photography, working as a commercial
photographer and freelance communicator for about eight years. Since 1998 he´s dedicated to ecotourism but still provides freelance consultancy in communications and photography whenever possible. He also volunteers in marine mammal science and conservation where he´s participated in various campaigns in marine mammal conservation and protection proposals, including success in blocking all attempts to install dolphin capture centers and dolphinariums in Chile, contributing to maintain Chile free of these obscure and harmful activities.

Pablo founded Marine Earth Expeditions, a small-scale ecotour operator dedicated to developing programs that integrate ecotourism and field science. He is coordinating director and Tour Leader for the Dolphin Research Expeditions and very willing to arrange programs with all requirements for each group and individual

Gian Paolo Sanino Paolo's main field of interest is cetacean research and conservation in Chile. Other interests: Environmental education, technology development, sailing, boat
design, hiking, diving in the highly diverse Chilean environment, KungFu and good ice cream.

Paolo Sanino is a biologist specialized in cetacean field research and laboratory analysis. He is science Director of the Centre for Marine Mammals Research LEVIATHAN, associated investigator for the Chilean National Museum of Natural History-MNHN, member of the first directory board of the Latin-American Society of Specialists in Aquatic Mammals- SOLAMAC, and technical advisor of the Peruvian Centre For Cetacean Research- CEPEC.

In 1996, Paolo was awarded by the US Society Of Marine Mammalogy with the first Robin Best Prize, being the first Latin-American scientist to receive such honor. The reward was for his capacity to extract biological information from limited material, in this case the highly decomposed remains of a stranded pygmy sperm whale.

Paolo has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed scientific publications on cetaceans in the eastern South Pacific and developed various research techniques, including improvements on dental analysis for chronometric studies and a new technique for Individual Identification of cetaceans using digital technologies. He leads long term field research on the local resident dolphins (POD-R) in Chile's IV Region since 1991, revealing striking and varied information on the dolphins and surrounding habitat.

Between 1995 and 1997 he designed and built a 22 ft. sailboat, a "floating laboratory" especially conditioned for marine mammal research. Named the Leviathan II, he built it on his own while facing many critics that though he was crazy, but today the Leviathan II is probably one of the best tools for cetacean field research in South America.

Paolo is the specialized scientist guide for the Whale and Dolphin Research Expeditions in Chile and very willing to share with those interested in taking part of this unique experience.

Pablo & Paolo conduct EarthFoot's "Join a Dolphin Research Expedition in Northern Chile!" program