Jesus Erick Higuera Rivas

Who I am

As a marine biologist and wildlife cinematographer, I specialise in documenting the natural history of marine life, connecting scientific research with filmmaking. In collaboration with scientists, NGOs and fishermen, my current work focuses on orcas and giant mantas off Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Where I work

My research efforts are concentrated in the south-western Gulf of California and along the Pacific coastline, stretching from the biological gateway of Magdalena Bay to the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula.

What I do

When I set sail to locate orcas, I capture high-resolution images of their dorsal fins and eye patches to photo-identify each individual. Once an individual has been identified, I move on to behavioural observation, tracking the pod to document its social structures and hunting strategies using aerial drones and surface-level and underwater cameras. We collect data by using hydrophones to record the orcas’ vocalisations and, when conditions permit, we take tissue biopsies for lab analysis. This integrated methodology enables us to construct a holistic portrait of the Gulf of California orca ecotype, connecting cinematic storytelling with marine science.