What is the secret behind the death of dolphins in the Amazon?

ArabiaWeather - One hundred and twenty river dolphins were found dead in one of the tributaries of the Amazon River during the past week, and it is believed that the reasons behind these deaths are due to harsh weather conditions, as experts believe that drought and high temperatures are the main factors contributing to this, according to an agency report. Reuters: Researchers believe that the drop in river water levels during the severe drought led to the water temperature rising to unbearable levels for dolphins.

Amazon river dolphins

Amazon river dolphins are a unique and distinctive species , with many of them sporting a charming pink color. They are a rare species found only in the rivers of South America. They are among the few remaining freshwater dolphin species in the world and due to their slow reproductive cycles, these dolphins are at risk of extinction.

Amid the stench of decomposing dolphins, biologists and other experts donned protective gear and masks on Monday to extract the dead mammals from a lake and conduct autopsies to determine the cause of their death.

The cause of the death of Amazon dolphins

Answer: It is believed by experts that severe drought and high temperatures played a role in the death of 120 river dolphins who were discovered in one of the branches of the Amazon River during the past week. Researchers indicated that the decrease in river water levels during the period of severe drought led to the water temperature rising to levels It's unbearable for the dolphins, but they're not entirely sure that drought and heat are the reason for the spike in dolphin mortality. They work to rule out other causes, such as a bacterial infection.

The relationship of climate change to the mortality of Amazon dolphins

When the water temperature of Lake Tefi reached 39 degrees Celsius on Thursday, at least 70 dead dolphins appeared on the surface of the water. This increase is considered significant, as it exceeds the usual rate at this time of the year by more than 10 degrees Celsius. Regarding the incident, Concerned experts expressed concern, noting that the water temperature had dropped for a few days, but rose again to 37 degrees Celsius on Sunday. Environmental activists blamed these unusual conditions on climate change, which makes droughts and heat waves more frequent and intense, and what... The role of global warming in this drought in the Amazon region is still under investigation, with other factors at play, such as the El Niño phenomenon.

Myriam Marmontel, a researcher at the Mamirawa Environmental Institute, told Reuters.

“We documented 120 bodies last week.”

Statistics indicated that about eight out of every ten carcasses discovered were those of pink dolphins, which are known locally as “potos” in Brazil, and this could represent up to 10% of the total estimated number of these dolphins in Lake Teifi.

The B -dolphin and the gray river dolphin known as the Tokoxy are both listed as Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which lists species in danger of extinction.

Also know:

How does drought threaten the world?

Can geoengineering contribute to a solution to climate change?

Sources:

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