Bolivia has only one freshwater mammal, and sadly it is endangered, due to pollution and other factors. Often, stories like these have endings that are less than happy, but we're thrilled to be able to spread the news that the Bolivian government has made the decision to protect these animals, even going so far as to declare them a national treasure. Here, we'll take a closer look at rare Pink River Dolphins, learn a little bit about the threats they face, and gain some insight on the legislation which has been enacted to protect them.
Amazonian Pink River Dolphin Basics
Similar in size and shape to river dolphins living in neighboring Peru, Venezuela, Columbia, and Brazil, and often thought to be a subset of the same Amazon River Dolphin species, Pink River Dolphins range in color from a very pale pinkish grey to a fairly vibrant pink color. These dolphins are among the few Delphinid species known to have the capacity for living in fresh, brackish, and marine environments alike, and with the capacity to easily move from one environment to the next. Normally between 5 and 7 feet long, these small-statured dolphins weigh in at 100 to 200 pounds; in comparison, the average weight of a bottlenose dolphin is between 400 and 660 pounds.
Unlike the bottlenose dolphin pictured above, Bolivian Pink Dolphins have long, curved beaks equipped with powerful crushing teeth. Like other dolphin species, they use echolocation to hunt for their prey; unlike others, they have unusually flexible necks for maneuvering in tight spaces, and longer snouts they use to extract prey from hiding place. These dolphins are fond of catfish, piranha, freshwater turtles, crabs, and shrimp. When tested for intelligence, River Dolphins get high scores - they're believed to be among the most intelligent dolphins in the animal kingdom. These cetaceans are endemic to the Amazon, Orinoco, and Araguaia / Tocantis Rivers, where they are threatened by overfishing, habitat loss, excessive boat traffic, and pollution, particularly from mercury which is making its way into the rivers due to illegal gold mining operations.
Besides the important predatory role these dolphins play in the river environment, they are also important in Amazonian folklore, where they are sometimes called "encantados," or shape shifters. As the story goes, they transform themselves into handsome men and beautiful women at night, arriving at parties and festivals, where they seduce members of the opposite sex. Unfortunately, this folklore sometimes gets dolphins in trouble; historically, they have been killed and ground into powders which have made their way into aphrodisiacs in some places. In other areas, local people believe river dolphins are guardians, and that it is bad luck to kill a dolphin.
Protection for Amazonian Pink River Dolphins
In September of 2012, Bolivian President Evo Morales enacted important laws which protect these magnificent animals and declares them to be a national treasure. Under the new laws, harmful fishing practices have been banned, and killing River Dolphins is a criminal offense. In addition, new regulations to combat erosion and pollution have been set in place, not just to benefit the dolphins, but to benefit the Amazon Basin as a whole.
Bolivia is leading the way in growing local consciousness regarding ecological issues facing the Amazon and the species living there. We hope to hear more good news in the future - for now, keep on making smart decisions about products sourced from South America and other places, and keep spreading the word. As President Morales has shown, it really is possible to make the types of changes that can bring our planet back to health.