13 Mar 2007 - Santiago
de Cali, Colombia – Scientists conducting
the first-ever South American river dolphin
census have sighted hundreds of dolphins,
raising hopes about the survival of some
of the endangered species’ populations.
The survey counted 520 dolphins — 321 grey
(Sotalia fluviatilis) and 199 pink (Inia
geoffrensis) — during a 294-kilometre voyage
down the Amazon, Atacuari and Javari rivers
in Colombia, Brazil and Peru.
According to the team of scientists —led
by the Omacha Foundation, with support from
the Wildlife Conservation Society, Whale
and Dolphin Conservation Society and WWF-Colombia
— the results obtained in previous expeditions
helped confirm that the Amazon dolphin populations
are in better condition than those surveyed
in the Orinoco River.
“The river count showed that although the
dolphins face various threats, such as pollution,
they have been able to survive in the Amazon
in Colombia,” said Sauo Usma, WWF-Colombia’s
Freshwater Programme Coordinator.
“We have noticed a change in the places
where they are found, rather than a change
in the number of individuals.”
The overall aim of the survey is to gather
data on one of the endangered freshwater
species in the world in order to design
a management and monitoring plan, as well
as get to know the state of the rivers and
watersheds of some of South America’s largest
rivers.
In previous legs of the expedition the
team recorded: 270 dolphins in Venezuela
(June 2006); 40 in Ecuador (July 2006);
131 on Colombia’s Meta River (August 2006);
and 818 in Peru (September 2006).
A fifth and last expedition is planned
for Bolivia between May and June 2007.
“Once we complete the Bolivian part of
the survey, we will finally have dependable
results on the state of river dolphin populations
in the Orinoco and the Amazon basins,” Usma
said.
“More importantly, we will be able to consolidate
the necessary resources to set in motion
a conservation strategy for these iconic
species.”
End Notes:
• The pink river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis),
also known as the boto, is found in lowland
fast flowing, white-water rivers, clearwater
or blackwater rivers. The species is also
present in the largest tributaries, lakes,
confluences and seasonally flooded forests.
It depends on healthy fish populations for
its survival. Historically, the boto has
been spared human persecution because of
the belief that it has special powers. Today
however, it is increasingly viewed by fishermen
as an unwanted competitor for fish. The
boto can get tangled up in fishing nets,
or suffer wounds by colliding with boats.
• The grey river dolphin (Sotalia fluviatilis)
is darker and smaller than the boto, with
a shorter snout and a distinctive triangular
dorsal fin.
Maria Ximena Galeano, Press Officer
WWF-Colombia
