Guardian of the Amazon: The Amazon River Dolphin

 

These dolphins constantly seem to be happy, despite the many challenges they face in the fishing industry. 

The Amazon River Dolphin : Inia geoffrensis

Characteristics: Gray color that turns pink as the dolphin matures, giving the nickname pink river dolphin. Around 6-8 feet long with two paddle-like flippers and a hump-like dorsal "fin"

Habitat: Amazon and Orinoco River basins (freshwater)

Diet: Mainly fish but occasionally crustaceans and small turtles

Conservation: Endangered; extreme loss in population each year

Just look at the picture above, and you'll see why the Amazon River Dolphin is one of the most popular creatures in South America. With its signature rosy color and smiling face, it's no wonder that the Amazon River Dolphin is beloved by many. To me, these dolphins radiate a kind of cheery attitude that I sometimes wish I could have, and when they jump out of the water, their two paddle-shaped flippers appear to wave to observers. 

Hellooooooooooooooo

One of my favorite traits of the Pink River Dolphins, and one of the aspects they are most known for, is their unique pink coloration. When I used to think about the earth and the natural world, shades of blue, green, and brown were the first to come to my mind. But after learning about how grand the array of creatures on earth truly is, I've come to see that this planet is a kaleidoscope of life, full of color and variety, constantly changing and evolving but always beautiful and unique. The Pink River Dolphin is a reminder to me of the richness of the earth's biodiversity; pink creatures swimming in the water among the fishes don't seem like they should exist, but they do, and they're captivating and arcane creatures. 

Although there are plenty, there's still no proven theory on why this river dolphin species is pink. One idea is that as the dolphins age, their skin becomes more translucent (like the glass frog!), allowing their blood to show through and provide a pink hue. Another is that the battle scars Pink Dolphins earn over time are the factors that lead to its coloration. Others cite exposure to sunlight, diets, or capillary placement. Whatever the correct theory is, I doubt we'll find it, and personally, I prefer it that way. Humans seem to know so much; the mystery of the pink river dolphin only makes the creature, and the earth, so much more fascinating. 

Of course, I'm not going to go off of looks alone. Besides their unique pink skin, I, along with others, am drawn to the Amazon River Dolphin's playful and curious personality. They're known to be friendly as much as they're known to be pink, and thousands of videos exist on the internet showing the dolphins' friendly dispositions towards humans. 

Unsurprisingly, dolphins are intelligent and clever, characteristics that come with curiosity. After discovering the intellect of sea mammals, scientists defined a new term: cetacean intelligence, the cognitive ability of whales, porpoises, and dolphins. Unlike other species, Amazon River Dolphins can experience emotions, logically solve problems, and have aware of their memories and actions. By observing how others in their habitat act, these dolphins are able to apply those skills to their own situations. But even though Pink River Dolphins exhibit a high level of intelligence, they are still at risk from threats they can't learn to avoid.

These dolphins aren't shy to swim up to whatever human interference is occurring in their river; it's part of their natural curiosity. Swimmers, boats, paddles, nets, machinery, the list goes on...and gets worse. 

Yep, this article just took a dark turn. The threats to the Amazon River Dolphin need as much attention as the dolphin's appearance and personality. River dolphins, in general, have been getting caught and injured by fishing nets and boat traffic for years. These dangers have existed for years but are worsening because of the rapid development of the human population and our technology. The Pink River Dolphin's population has dropped about 95% since 2000 due to these factors, in addition to mercury poisoning, poaching, pollution, and the deterioration of the Amazon Rainforest. 

The decline of the Amazon River Dolphin and thousands of other species is a depressing reality we're confronting, and one can't help but feel hopeless and emotionally depleted. In our current world, news on the decaying ecosystems around the world is constantly there, causing bleak outlooks on our future. We have to recognize that the extinction of the Amazon River Dolphin is possible. We also have to recognize that the decay of the earth continuing and worsening is possible. But these issues are also preventable, and we need to raise awareness and take action, not just for the Amazon River Dolphin but for all the creatures living in our kaleidoscope of life.