Alarming River Dolphin Die-Off in Amazon
The carcasses of 120 Amazon river dolphins have been found floating in a tributary of the river over the past week, prompting widespread alarm from scientists about the high temperature of the water. The Mamiraua Institute, a branch of Brazil's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, has been tracking the carcasses found in Tefe Lake, which has seen water temperatures shoot up to 102 degrees Fahrenheit in some places. Drought has also hit the lake hard during this dry season, making water levels low. The Amazon river dolphin, which has bubblegum-pink skin, are one of a handful of freshwater dolphin species around the world, which have declined dramatically in recent years. Around 1,400 dolphins live in Tefe Lake, and researchers have been attempting to rescue surviving animals by transferring them to other, cooler rivers.
(CNN, The Guardian, Reuters, NPR, Al Jazeera)
To receive climate stories like this in your inbox daily click here to sign up for the Hot News Newsletter from Climate Nexus:
Related Content
