Sea Shepherd Brazil reported on Friday that 16 of the typically pink-hued dolphins, located in the Coari region of the river, succumbed to the dire environmental conditions.
A new region along the Amazon River in Brazil has shown additional cases of rare freshwater dolphin deaths, which is a troubling development prompted by the Amazon’s longest-lasting drought on record.
Sea Shepherd Brazil reported on Friday that 16 of the typically pink-hued dolphins, located in the Coari region of the river, succumbed to the dire environmental conditions. Tragically, seven other water-based mammals were also found lifeless. This alarming occurrence raises concerns that dolphins may be perishing in other unmonitored parts of the river, according to Sea Shepherd.
The Amazon River recently reached its lowest levels in over a century due to the unrelenting drought, disrupting the lives of hundreds of thousands and wreaking havoc on the jungle’s delicate ecosystem.
Researchers believe that the abnormally low river levels, combined with scorching temperatures in certain areas, have created intolerable conditions for the Amazon dolphins. In recent weeks, thousands of fish have met a similar fate in Amazon tributaries, succumbing to oxygen-depleted waters.
During monitoring expeditions to Coari on Sunday and Monday, Sea Shepherd’s teams discovered not only the 16 pink dolphins but also three tucuxis, another variety of freshwater dolphin, and an additional four dolphins of an unidentified species. A small number of surviving dolphins were also observed, displaying normal behavior, as noted by the organization.
Since September, a total of 178 pink dolphins have been reported deceased, primarily in the Tefe region of the river. This devastating toll represents approximately 10% of the population, according to Sea Shepherd. The dolphins’ slow reproductive cycles render their populations particularly vulnerable to threats.
The increasingly dire situation underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts to safeguard these endangered creatures and to address the broader ecological challenges arising from the unprecedented drought in the Amazon.
The deaths of these dolphins are a stark reminder of the impact that climate change is having on the Amazon rainforest and its wildlife. The Amazon is home to a wide variety of unique and biodiverse species, many of which are already threatened by habitat loss and deforestation. Climate change is exacerbating these threats, and it is putting even more species at risk of extinction.