Over 100 endangered dolphins were found dead in Lake Tefe in the Brazilian Amazon. Amazon river’s striking pink and grey colored dolphins are among the few freshwater dolphins found in the world. Experts suspect these deaths were caused by severe drought and heat.

The world’s largest waterway, Amazon River, is currently in its dry season and several specimens of river flora and fauna are dealing with record high temperatures. Thousands of fish have also died according to local media reports.

According to experts at Mamiraua Institute, a research facility funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Science, "It’s still early to determine the cause of this extreme event but it is certainly connected to the drought period and high temperatures in Lake Tefé, exceeding 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit)." This is more than 10 degrees higher than the average for this time of the year.

The amazon river dolphins called boto and tuxuci are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list of threatened species. Slow reproductive cycles make their populations vulnerable to threats.
Miriam Marmontel, a researcher at the Mamiraua Institute, said “roughly 8 of every 10 carcasses being found are pink dolphins and could represent 10 percent of their estimated population in Lake Tefe”. She added “Ten percent is a very high percentage of loss, and the possibility that it will increase could threaten the survival of the species in Lake Tefe”

Down to Earth is Science and Environment fortnightly published by the Society for Environmental Communication, New Delhi. We publish news and analysis on issues that deal with sustainable development, which we scan through the eyes of science and environment.

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