The Amazon region has suffered a historic drought, and media reports indicate that water temperatures in the region have reached new highs, with water temperatures exceeding 102 degrees Fahrenheit (about 39 degrees Celsius) in some places. As a result of this extreme weather phenomenon, hundreds of freshwater dolphins living in the waters have unfortunately died.
Freshwater dolphins have long been considered an important indicator to assess whether the situation in the Amazon is normal. They are usually pink or gray in color and are locally known as boto (i.e. Amazon pufferfish). The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed it as endangered.
The Mamirauá Institute, funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Science, pointed out that in the last 7 days a large number of dead freshwater dolphins have been found, all found in Lake Tefé. Such a high number of deaths is anomalous, which may be related to record water temperatures and historic droughts, the institute said.
Local researchers and activists are trying to move the surviving freshwater dolphins into rivers with cooler waters. André Coelho, a researcher at the Mamilawa Institute, said in an interview that it is not necessarily safe to move freshwater dolphins elsewhere because "it is very important to verify the presence of the virus in the released waters."
Brazil has recently suffered from unusually extreme weather, with El Niño and human-caused climate change being one of the main causes. The southern part of the country was hit by torrential rains, while the northern part was hit by a severe drought. In the past two weeks, the water level of the Amazon has reportedly dropped by 30 centimeters per day, due to drought.
It is the dry season on the Amazon River, and authorities expect more severe drought conditions in the coming weeks, which could lead to more deaths of freshwater dolphins. In addition to the impact on aquatic life, the decline in river levels in the Amazon has hindered the development of river transport and fishing, which in turn has a negative impact on the local economy.
The event raised concerns about the impact of climate change on ecosystems. The drought and extreme water temperature extremes in the Brazilian Amazon are worrying examples, posing not only a direct threat to species such as freshwater dolphins, but also to the ecological balance and sustainable economic development of the region.
Faced with this situation, measures are needed to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect the ecosystems of the Amazon basin. This may include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting forests, improving water management and promoting sustainable development. Only through global cooperation and sustained efforts can we ensure that the Amazon region and its precious biodiversity continue to thrive.
According to Red Star News reporter Li Jinrui, this article was written by editor He Xianxian, and Feng Lingling was in charge of editing.