Why are Amazon River dolphins going extinct?
Pink river dolphins live in the main rivers of the Amazon River and the Orinoco river in South America. They are endangered because of the increase in population in the basins of these two rivers, increasing the pollution, the river traffic and therefore the accidental killing.
Is the Amazon river dolphin endangered 2020?
The Amazon river dolphin, or boto, is critically endangered, with a population somewhere in the thousands.
When did the Amazon river dolphin become endangered?
Published: Sunday 09 December 2018. The dolphins of the Amazon river have been listed as “Endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in its latest “Red List” published in November 2018.
What is the population of the Amazon river dolphin?
Population number Thus, in the Amazon basin there are: 107 individuals in the Solimões River (Brazil), 346 the in the Amazon River bordering Peru and Colombia, around 260 individuals in the Mamirauá Lake system of Brazil and 13.000 individuals in the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve.
How many river dolphins are left in the world 2021?
There are only five extant species of river dolphins left in the world today and they are all endangered or critically endangered. This is because pollution, dams, shipping and bycatch have taken their toll on this iconic species.
What threatens the Amazon river dolphin?
Mercury pollution from small-scale gold mining activities are one of the main threats to the Bolivian river dolphin, a subspecies of the Amazon river dolphin. The mercury reaches dolphins through the food chain. They mainly eat catfish, which are bottom feeders greatly affected by metals like mercury in the water.
How can we save river dolphins?
Identifying and sharing information about carefully selected IMMAs for river dolphins will help jump-start habitat protection efforts for these threatened species. IMMAs for river dolphins will help pave the way for the creation of networks of protected areas and conservation recommendations for them.
How many river dolphins are there left?
There are only about 3200 Ganges river dolphins (Platanista gangetica gangetica) left in the world.
Do Amazon river dolphins have any predators?
Amazon River Dolphin Predators and Threats Animals that prey on the river dolphin include large snakes, jaguars and caimans. However, once the species has passed adolescence they have few natural predators.
Are Chinese river dolphins extinct?
Critically Endangered
Baiji/Conservation status
What is the lifespan of an Amazon river dolphin?
30 years old
The Amazon pink river dolphin is the largest and smartest out of the five freshwater species. A full-grown dolphin can grow up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) long, weigh up to 400 pounds (181 kilograms), and live to 30 years old.
Are there any Dolphins in the Amazon River?
The Amazon’s iconic freshwater dolphins are in steep decline, announced Brazilian researchers. According to them, the Amazon dolphin populations are halving every decade. A majestic river dolphin leaping out of the water.
How are Amazon river dolphins affected by pollution?
Pollution. Mercury pollution from small-scale gold mining activities are one of the main threats to the Bolivian river dolphin, a subspecies of the Amazon river dolphin. The mercury reaches dolphins through the food chain. They mainly eat catfish, which are bottom feeders greatly affected by metals like mercury in the water.
Where does the pink river dolphin live in the world?
The Amazon river dolphin, also known as the pink river dolphin or boto, lives only in freshwater. It is found throughout much of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela. It is a relatively abundant freshwater cetacean with an estimated population in the tens of thousands.
What does the WWF do for river dolphins?
What WWF Is Doing. WWF works to protect river dolphin habitat in the Amazon region and continues to support river dolphin surveys to help determine their status and vulnerability. WWF also supports research about the impact of dams on the size and dispersal of dolphin populations.
