Sunday, June 17, 2007

Pink dolphin specie may face extinction soon

Fears for the future of the Amazonian pink river dolphin are rising after a surge in their indiscriminate killing and the launch of a government plan to build several hydro-electric dams in the region.

Until recently the freshwater dolphin - known in Brazil as the boto - was not considered at risk, but environmentalists in the Amazon now believe the dolphin could face the same fate as the Yangtze river dolphin, which was recently declared "functionally extinct" due to a combination of pollution and dam projects.

The boto is still widespread compared to other river dolphins. Since 2000, however, Brazilian scientists have registered a sharp drop in their number.

"I see that this is becoming the destiny of the boto of Amazonia," said Vera da Silva, a biologist at the National Institute of Amazonian Research in Manaus. In the Mamiraua ecological reserve 330 miles from Manaus, which has one of the highest concentrations of botos, researchers believe the population is dropping by around 10% a year.

In Brazil the main threat to the boto is the growing use of its flesh as bait. Dr da Silva said fishing techniques imported from Colombia had led to indiscriminate capture. The number of mutilated animals, without fins, with a name carved into their backs or with puncture marks as if they have been harpooned had also risen significantly, she added.

Environmentalists are also worried about a plan for hydro-electric dams in the Amazon basin, which many fear would isolate groups of river dolphin.

The boto, believed by some to have migrated to the Amazon around 15m years ago from the Pacific Ocean, is central to Amazonian folklore.

Quick "Facts about Dolphins"