On average, scientists discover the remains of a rare pink dolphin in the Amazon River basin every day—a region currently suffering from severe drought conditions. Many of these dolphins have died after being struck by fishing boats in shallow waters.
The carcass of a freshwater dolphin found washed ashore at Lake Tefe during the worst drought ever recorded in Brazil. (Photo: Reuters).
On September 20, Miriam Marmontel, head of the dolphin protection project at the Mariaura Institute for Sustainable Development (Brazil), raised concerns about the unusual mortality rate of Amazon’s freshwater dolphins.
This warning comes as scientists have repeatedly discovered the remains of this rare species washed ashore along the banks of Lake Tefe. Last week, the research team reported at least one similar death each day. At least two dolphins have died due to collisions with boats in shallow waters.
The project leader further stated: “The prolonged drought in Brazil has caused major river branches in the Amazon basin to dry up, thus shrinking the natural habitat of the pink dolphins, while water temperatures have also risen rapidly. During a similar drought in 2023, over 200 dolphins at Lake Tefe died as similar conditions emerged.”
The most severe drought in the Amazon River basin since 1950 has critically threatened the habitat. (Photo: Reuters).
“No one anticipated that this drought would arrive so quickly, and even more severely than last year. Although the current number of dead dolphins is not high, the dry season will still last for more than another month. Water levels in the river branches will continue to drop,” expressed Miriam Marmontel with concern.
Not only dolphins but also local communities along the Amazon basin are heavily impacted by extreme weather phenomena. The shallow waters make it impossible for boats to navigate, isolating residents. Their floating homes now stand alone on dry sand.
Francisco Alvaro Santos, a fisherman at Lake Tefé, said: “This is the first time my floating house has run aground. Water is everything to us. It is a part of our daily life and the main means of transportation for everyone here. Without water, we have nothing.”
According to the National Center for Disaster Monitoring and Early Warning in Brazil, the current drought is the most severe and extensive the country has experienced since weather data was recorded in 1950.
| Amazonian freshwater dolphins are mammals with a distinctive pink color. This unique species can only be found in South American rivers; it is also one of the few remaining rare freshwater dolphin species on Earth. Their slow reproductive cycle is one of the reasons their population is particularly vulnerable. |
