Dr. Lenin Oviedo Correa is a Venezuelan researcher captivated by the diversity of marine animals in Latin America. As a marine scientist and research associate with the Centro de Investigacion de Cetaceos Costa Rica (CEIC), he studies whales, dolphins and broader ocean health across Latin America. He earned his Ph.D. in Marine Science from CICIMAR-Instituto Politecnico Nacional in Mexico, following earlier studies in marine and coastal science in Costa Rica and oceanography in Venezuela.

His work focuses on the behavioral ecology of cetaceans and how marine mammals respond to changing environmental and human pressures. By studying the movement, behavior and habitat use of dolphins and whales, he examines how these species navigate complex marine ecosystems and what that reveals about the health of ocean environments. His research contributes to marine conservation efforts across the region, particularly in areas where ecological importance overlaps with social and economic pressures. After nearly a decade of long-term monitoring in Costa Rica’s Golfo Dulce, his work helped support the designation of the region as an Important Marine Mammal Area, strengthening protections for whales, dolphins and other marine life.

In the field, he combines ecological research with education and outreach, emphasizing the importance of connecting people to marine ecosystems through direct experience and observation. For him, some of the most meaningful moments come when dolphins remain calm and undisturbed alongside the research vessel—a sign that the animals feel secure enough to continue their natural behavior in the researchers’ presence.

Through this work, he helps deepen understanding of marine mammals in tropical ecosystems, supporting conservation strategies that protect both biodiversity and the communities that depend on healthy oceans.