BRASILIA: A devastating drought in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest has led to the deaths of over 100 dolphins in the past week, with many more at risk if high water temperatures persist, warn experts.
The Mamiraua Institute, a research group under Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, reported the discovery of two more dead dolphins in the region around Tefe Lake on Monday. Tefe Lake plays a crucial role for the local mammal and fish populations.
Heartbreaking footage provided by the institute shows vultures scavenging on the carcasses of dolphins stranded along the lakeside. Local media also reported thousands of fish deaths in the affected areas.
Experts point to elevated water temperatures as the primary cause of these tragic deaths in the region. Temperatures have soared beyond 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Tefe Lake area since last week.
Responding to the crisis, the Brazilian government’s Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, which manages conservation areas, dispatched teams of veterinarians and aquatic mammal experts to investigate the situation.
Miriam Marmontel, a researcher from the Mamiraua Institute, shared the grim statistics, stating that there were approximately 1,400 river dolphins in Tefe Lake. “In one week, we have already lost around 120 animals between the two species, which could represent 5% to 10% of the population,” said Marmontel.
The impact of this severe drought extends beyond the wildlife population. Dry rivers have severely affected impoverished riverside communities, leaving boats stranded in the sand.
Amazonas Gov. Wilson Lima declared a state of emergency on Friday in response to the drought’s devastating effects. The situation is dire for communities like Tefe, a city with 60,000 residents, where Mayor Nicson Marreira noted that his government has been unable to deliver food to isolated communities due to the dried-up rivers.
Ayan Fleischmann, the Geospatial coordinator at the Mamirauá Institute, emphasized the profound impact of the drought on Amazon’s riverside communities. “Many communities are becoming isolated, without access to good quality water, without access to the river, which is their main means of transportation,” he said.
While experts are still investigating the exact cause of the dolphin deaths, they consider the soaring water temperatures as the leading candidate. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the complex environmental challenges facing the Amazon rainforest and its inhabitants.
