Historic drought and record water temperatures in the Amazon have severely affected freshwater dolphins in the region. According to media reports, the Brazilian Amazon region has recently experienced a rare drought and water temperatures have reached record highs, with water temperatures exceeding 102 degrees Fahrenheit (about 39 degrees Celsius) in some areas. This has led to the death of hundreds of freshwater dolphins living in the waters.
Freshwater dolphins have long been regarded as an important indicator of whether the situation in the Amazon is abnormal. Freshwater dolphins living in the Amazon basin, known locally as boto, are usually pink or gray in color and have been listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Recently, the Mamirauá Institute, funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Science, pointed out that in the last 7 days these dead freshwater dolphins have been detected in Lake Tefé. Such a high number of deaths is unusual, and that record water temperatures and historic droughts may be a big reason for this, the institute said.
Local researchers and activists are reportedly working to move the surviving freshwater dolphins into rivers with cooler waters. André Coelho, a researcher at the Mamilawa Institute, said in an interview that there is no guarantee that it will be safe to transfer freshwater dolphins elsewhere, "It is very important to verify that the released waters are free of the virus." ”
Brazil has recently experienced exceptionally extreme weather, with heavy rains hitting the southern part of the country and severe drought in the north due to El Niño and man-made climate change. In the past two weeks, the water level of the Amazon, one of the largest rivers in the world, has dropped by 30 centimeters a day.
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 fatal effects on aquatic life, the drop in river levels in the Amazon has hindered the development of river transportation and fishing, which in turn has a negative impact on the local economy.
Today, the Brazilian Amazon region is facing the serious challenge of water scarcity. According to a survey, rainfall in the Amazon has fallen by about 20 percent from the average over the past few decades. This drought trend has had a significant impact not only on local ecosystems, but also on human society.
Experts point out that this drought phenomenon is closely linked to global climate change. Climate model projections suggest that the Amazon is likely to face more frequent and severe drought events in the coming decades. In order to meet this challenge, the Brazilian government and the international community should step up their efforts to take active measures to protect the water resources and ecology of the Amazon region.
In addition, it is necessary to strengthen scientific research and monitoring, gain a deeper understanding of the hydrological climate change law in the Amazon region, and provide a reliable basis for formulating scientific and reasonable water resources management policies. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen public education and awareness-raising to guide people to save water and reduce overexploitation and waste of water resources.
Protecting water resources in the Amazon is not only about the sustainable development of local ecology and economy, but also an important part of global ecological security. Only through international cooperation and joint efforts can we ensure the survival and reproduction of the Amazon basin and its rare creatures, leaving a blue treasure for the future of the earth.
Citations:
1. World Wildlife Fund. (2023). Amazon River Dolphin. Retrieved from https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/amazon-river-dolphin
2. China News. (2023, October 1). Brazilian Amazon Region Experiences Historic Drought, Endangering Freshwater Dolphins. Retrieved from https://www.chinanews.com/gj/2023/10-01/9880049.shtml
3. The Guardian. (2023, September 29). Brazilian Amazon River Dolphins Dying in Record Numbers Amid Drought. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/29/brazilian-amazon-river-dolphins-dying-drought