'Magical' pink dolphins rescued in Bolivia in push to boost species

[Judi Lynn]

Monica Machicao Reuters
CONTRIBUTOR

By Monica Machicao

LA PAZ, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Rescuers using boats and drones worked for three days last week in a lush stretch of Bolivia's Amazon rainforest to find a pair of trapped pink river dolphins, a species endangered by steady encroachment along the waterways the colorful mammals call home.

The two dolphins were found languishing in still water ponds cut off from the Bolivian Amazon's Rio Grande after they swam inland and the main channel dropped, according to Claudia Venega, a biologist with a rescue program.

She explained that many pink dolphins lose access to the river because of their reproductive instincts.

"When the females go to give birth they seek out quieter places and so they leave the river in search of calmer backwaters," said Venega, noting that other females will often join to help raise the infant calves and teach them to fish.

More:
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/magical-pink-dolphins-rescued-in-bolivia-in-push-to-boost-species

[Backseat Driver]

1. They look like such peaceful, happy creatures.

Hope this rescue will help these trapped mamas; leave it to loud human activities not to mention dangerous fossil-fueled motorized boats messing up the lives of these lively creatures' fragile environments of safety and causing disruptions and injury to their natural parental instincts and their babies bodies. Even when they get "stuck," rescues might be traumatic for them. With climate changes accelerating, well, what was their way might never be saved or return...I hope more humans will come to recognize the necessities to be better stewards of species. I'm not hopeful...but for these magical pink dolphins sake, we're the ones who need to change our ways!

Wonderful photos accompanying this article!

[Judi Lynn]

2. Short video: Rare Pink River Dolphin Rescued From Shallow Water in Bolivia

ANIMALS
OCTOBER 18, 2022

The World Wildlife Foundation says little is known about pink river dolphins, but researchers recently had an up-close encounter in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. A pair of the mammals were found in shallow waters. Veterinarians gave them a check-up, and they were both fitted with a WWF tracker before they were released back to the wild. Pink river dolphins can grow to over 8 feet long and, while in captivity, the species has lived to be about 30 years old.

https://www.insideedition.com/media/videos/rare-pink-river-dolphin-rescued-from-shallow-water-in-bolivia-77497