Pink Dolphins, Is This True?

While you expect to see dolphins in the ocean, veryweigh up to 200 pounds.
few people realize that dolphins can be found in freshThe Indus River dolphin is only known to exist in the
water rivers as well.Punjab Province and the Sind Province of the Indus
There are four species of dolphins that make theirRiver.
homes in rivers. There is, however, one species ofDue to its decline in population, the government of Sind,
river dolphin that makes it's home in saltwater estuariesin Pakistan, has given the Indus River dolphin full legal
and the ocean.protection, and has also established the Indus River
River dolphins are not the same dolphins that youDolphin Reserve.
would see in the ocean. In fact, river dolphins are onlyThe Ganges River dolphin is closely related to the
distantly related to sea dolphins.Indus River dolphin. It also grows between 5 and 8
River dolphins are also the most endangered of all thefeet, and can weigh up to 200 pounds.
world's cetaceans.It can only be found in the fresh water rivers of
The five species of river dolphins are the AmazonBangladesh, India, and Nepal.
River dolphin, the Franciscana dolphin, the Indus RiverThese dolphins are commonly poached for their oil,
dolphin, the Ganges River dolphin, and the Yangtzewhich is used in the preparation of bait. Even though
River dolphin. Each of these species of dolphins arethe Ganges River dolphin's existence is threatened, little
very different from each other.has been done to protect it.
The Amazon River dolphin is the largest river dolphin inThe Yangtze River dolphin, commonly known as the
existence. These dolphins are also called Boto, andChinese River dolphin or the Baiji dolphin, is at the brink
their scientific name is Inia Geoffrensis.of extinction.
The Amazon River dolphin is between six and eightIn 1975, the Chinese government declared the Baiji a
feet long, and weighs between 185 and 355 poundsnational treasure, and began to offer conservation and
when it is fully grown.protection to the species, however, this has done little
As it's name implies it inhabits the Amazon River, but itgood, as the dolphin is still endangered by heavy boat
can also be found in the Orinoco basins and the uppertraffic, fishing, industrial development, and the
Madeira River as well. These dolphins have variousconstruction of the world's largest dam.
colored skins, which can be light gray, pink, or brown.The Yangtze River, where the Chinese River dolphin
The Amazon River dolphin also appears to be themakes it's home is one of the world's busiest rivers in
most social of all the river dolphins.the most populated country on the planet.
The Franciscana dolphin, which is also called the LaThe Chinese River dolphin grows to be between four
Plata River dolphin, is one of the rarest dolphins inand eight feet, and can weigh up to 360 pounds.
South America. Due to its rarity, there is little knownRiver dolphins are typically smaller than sea dolphins,
about it.with longer snouts.
It grows to be between 4 and 6 feet long, and weighsRiver dolphins also tend to have more pointy teeth
up to 115 pounds, and its body is a grayish brown color.than sea dolphins.
Even though sightings of the Franciscana dolphin areOther than the Amazon River dolphin, sea dolphins
scarce, it can be found in the Doce River, in Brazil, andhave proven to be more sociable than river dolphins.
the Peninsula Valdes in Argentina. It can also be foundMost species of river dolphins are almost blind, due to
in the coastal waters of Uruguay.navigating muddy waters, but their brains are
This is the only species of river dolphins that can beextremely large and well developed.
found in salt water.Unlike sea dolphins, river dolphins have what resembles
The Indus River dolphin is gray-brown, with a pink belly.fingers on the ends of their flippers, and their dorsal fins
It grows to be between five and eight feet, and canare much smaller than that of sea dolphins.