Naturalist and Explorer Ivan Mikolji, Part 2:Tales from His New Book “Fishes of the Orinoco in the Wild”
The Orinoco River – one of the longest in S. America, has tributaries and wetlands that spread throughout Venezuela and Colombia for hundreds of thousands of square miles. Among the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world and the native range for many aquarium fish species, the stability of the Orinoco basin and surrounding forests is under threat from a variety of natural and man-made challenges.
My guest today, Ivan Mikolji, world-renowned naturalist, audio/visual artist, and author, returns to share stories from his new book, “Fishes of the Orinoco in the Wild.” Join us, as Ivan guides us through the stories, photographs, concerns, and hopes for a better future for this treasured natural resource.
BIO:
Ivan Mikolji is a world-renowned explorer, researcher, audio/visual artist, and author who tirelessly documents the magnificent diversity and wonder of the aquatic habitats of S. America. A native of Venezuela, early experiences with aquariums and the aquatic world fostered his passion of sharing the richness of South American waterways and its denizens to the world. Through Ivan’s strong social media presence, his dramatic underwater videos are seen around the world, and his photographs and stories have graced articles in numerous publications. Ivan is also an extremely accomplished artist, whose beautiful interpretations of the aquatic life of Venezuela and South America are sought after by collectors worldwide. The founder and President of the Fish from Venezuela Foundation (Fundacion Peces de Venezuela), Ivan is active in ongoing scientific expeditions, including work with the IUCN, as well as outreach and educational programming. Ultimately, Ivan hopes that by sharing images, video and stories, his audience learns to appreciate the wonders and importance of conserving these unique natural habitats.