Three dead sea dolphins discovered in Brazil, victims of illegal fishing, during the expedition led by Sea Shepherd
Dramatic find in Amazon: in recent days the volunteers of Sea Shepherd Brasil (NGO that has been fighting for years for the protection of marine ecosystems) came across three specimens of dead river dolphins, with numerous injuries that seem to have been caused by harpoons. The sad discovery was made in Manacapuru, Brazil during the first phase of a long-term study on two key species of the Amazon basins: theInia geoffrensis - also known as the Amazonian dolphin or bonto - and the Sotalia fluviatilis, commonly called the river dolphin.
Sea Shepherd's goal was to observe the impact of illegal fishing on the conservation of these extraordinary endangered specimens.
The results of the Sea Shepherd expedition
The expedition lasted 19 days, during which approximately 1200 km of rivers and lakes in four areas of Brazil were monitored: Manacapuru, an area famous for fishing for piracatinga, a fish that feeds on the remains of other dead animals; the Piagaçu-Purus Reserve for Sustainable Development (RDS), an area particularly because it is home to the highest density of river dolphins in the world; the Mamirauá Reserve, where the most in-depth studies on the two cetacean species were conducted.
In total, 1.400 specimens of bonto and Sotalia fluviatilis were identified in the basins analyzed, but the discovery of three dead river dolphins, two in Manacapuru and one near the Port of Coari, worried the Sea Shepherd volunteers.
There were three males - explains the NGO - These sightings are rare to obtain since an animal killed in the river does not last many hours before being preyed upon by other animals. The first was an adult, with a neat mark on his neck and a large wound under the pectoral fin about ten centimeters deep and which may have been caused by a harpoon. The second was a young man, possibly a puppy, with a wound mark on his tail, also possibly caused by a harpoon. The third was a healthy adult with no signs of illness and injury.
STRONG SCENES: Amazon Boto Expedition finds tucuxi killed by harpoon!
Amazon Boto Expedition finds tucuxi killed by harpoon! See footage of the encounter and the autopsy performed by our team of researchers. The tucuxi dolphin (Sotalia fluviatilis) is the smallest of the river dolphins. It is only found in the Amazon basin and is threatened with extinction, according to the IUCN red list. Your biggest threat? Fishing. Because of its size, it easily gets tangled up in hammocks, and without being able to breathe, or even due to stress, it ends up dying. Worse still, it is sometimes hunted by some fishermen who see it as competition for fish. bank of the river and there he performed an autopsy to understand the cause of death. It was an adult male, with a net mark on its neck and a large wound below its pectoral fin, about 9 cm deep, possibly caused by a harpoon. See the video for more details. In addition to this one, 2 other tucuxis were found dead during the expedition. One juvenile, with a wound mark on the tail, also indicative of a harpoon, and another healthy adult, with no indications of illness or injury. While encounters like this are extremely regrettable, it is important to investigate and understand the threats that have been reducing animal populations to such an extent. unique and fragile, like the Amazon river dolphins. We need to save them from extinction. And the Boto da Amazônia Expedition counts on your support to continue its research. Become a Sea Shepherd Brazil patron, find out how at the link in our bio. #ExpediçãoBotodaAmazônia #SeaShepherdBrasil #SeaShepherd #tucuxi #boto #bycatch
Posted by Sea Shepherd Brasil on Wednesday, November 3, 2021
These findings confirm the suspicion of Sea Shepherd activists that the greatest threat of these species is humans. Although these cetaceans have been protected by Brazilian law for decades, they too often die when they get entangled in fishing nets. Fishermen should release endangered species immediately, but when they stir they frequently get harpooned to prevent their fishing nets from being torn apart.
Another major threat to river dolphins is the traps (wooden boxes or fences) set up to catch the Amazonian piracatinga fish. In recent years there has been a boom in this practice and also to protect cetaceans that accidentally ended up in traps in 2015, fishing and the sale of piracatinga is prohibited.
During the expedition, thanks to a drone, an illegal fence built for the capture of piracatinga specimens was identified for the first time, which often takes place at night.
The bonto and river dolphin are disappearing at an eerie rate
Both the bonto (which is characterized by its particular pink color) and the Sotalia fluviatilis live in the rivers of the Amazon basin. Both species have been classified by the IUCN as endangered and are therefore subject to protection. But the laws introduced internationally were not enough to stop the decline of these fascinating specimens. According to research conducted a couple of years and appeared in the scientific journal Plos One, the population of these species decreases by about 50% every decade. A frightening number.
To protect these endangered species, Sea Shepherd plans another five expeditions over the next three years.
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Source: Sea Shepherd Brazil
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