Pink dolphins rescued from shrinking water levels in the Amazon
A team of researchers saved endangered, freshwater dolphins after falling river levels left them stranded in isolated wetlands.
A team of researchers successfully rescued these pink dolphins on Wednesday, June 25 after falling water levels left them stranded.
27 freshwater dolphins, called bufeos, were hoisted from pools that had become isolated in the wetlands of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, due to the reduced river flow amidst dry conditions.
Many of the rescued included juveniles and newborns, lifted from an inland, aquatic ecosystem that supports their reproduction but also periodically poses the risk of entrapment.
Identification chips were implanted into some of the adult bufeos for health monitoring as the species is listed as endangered due to human activities disrupting their habitat.
Low water levels and drought in the Amazon rainforest have caused issues in recent years, sparking terrible wildfires and cutting off upstream communities from supply chains.
Thumbnail courtesy of Noel Kempff Mercado Natural Museum | Reuters.
With files from Reuters.