| #ffffff;" /> | | | | four species are nearing extinction or can be said as |
| People are just fond of the word dolphins and always | | | | they are extinct. On the other hand, these dolphins, pink |
| look out for these friendly creatures whenever they | | | | in colour are known to constitute the greatest |
| are into the sea. But, did you know that there are | | | | population among their own class. |
| certain species thriving in the rivers? Might be quite | | | | Yet another surprising fact is that pink river dolphins |
| amazing right? But, it is true and this category belongs | | | | are the most endangered species among the |
| to the Pink Dolphins. They are also well known in | | | | cetaceans known in the world. IUCN or the International |
| different names Boutu, Boto or even Amazon River | | | | Union for the Conservation of Nature listed them |
| dolphins. This name was originated from the place they | | | | among the “vulnerable |
| live in, the Amazon River. | | | | species-threatened” category. It was only |
| Inia Geoffrensis is the scientific name given to the Pink | | | | recently they altered their section to another category, |
| Dolphins who thrive in the Amazon area. They are | | | | “endangered species-threatened”. This |
| categorized into the genus Inea which belongs to the | | | | is an awful situation as we you can never find such |
| family Platanistoidea. | | | | friendly creatures anywhere else and they are facing |
| Pink dolphins are much different from the dolphins you | | | | extinction and we are just helpless other than to just |
| usually see when you are into the sea or ocean. You | | | | sit and watch! |
| can also tell that they are adapted to their environment | | | | The reason for their extinction is still on and the finding |
| and they are very distantly in relation to the ones you | | | | states that the destruction of Amazon basin has |
| see in the ocean. | | | | resulted in the demolition of its habitat thus leading to |
| There are five species of the river dolphins known till | | | | their extinction. Use of mercury in the gold mining |
| date and among them, the Amazon pink dolphins are | | | | process has also resulted in the death of a huge |
| referred to as the most intelligent among all. It has also | | | | number of dolphins as the level of contaminants in |
| been stated that the brain capacity of these species | | | | mercury is too high for these social creatures to |
| are 50% greater when compared with that of the | | | | tolerate. |
| humans. | | | | Yet another reason pointed out was the immense |
| Apart from the Amazon River, the pink dolphins can | | | | traffic in the Amazon basin. With such crowd, noise |
| be a common sight along the upper Madeira River and | | | | and disturbance of the nature’s balance makes |
| also the Orinoco basins. As the name suggests, pink | | | | them move here and there. Thus they get hit by sharp |
| dolphins are mostly seen in pink colour even though | | | | propellers or vessels leading to their death. Some other |
| other colour variations are also very well known | | | | reasons include sound pollution; destruction of their |
| including brown, light gray or even light pink. | | | | habitat and even the destruction of their progeny are |
| It is simply amazing and yet shocking the among the | | | | some of the greatest faults from our side! |
| five river dolphins known, except this variety the other | | | | |