In a joint effort that marked a new milestone in the conservation of aquatic fauna, a team of specialists and volunteers successfully rescued 27 Amazon river dolphins stranded in the wetlands of northern Santa Cruz department, Bolivia.
The animals were trapped due to the decrease in river flow in a protected area, as reported by the Noel Kempff Mercado Natural History Museum.
The operation took place between June 21st and 25th in the municipality of San Pedro, and was coordinated by biologist Claudia Venegas, who highlighted the presence of calves and neonates measuring just half a meter as one of the unprecedented challenges of the rescue.
“It is the first time we have found such young dolphins in an operation,” Venegas told the newspaper El Deber.
Delicate maneuver under adverse weather conditions
Preparations in the field took up the first two days, while the transfers were carried out during a cold front. However, the animals were not affected by the low temperatures, as each intervention lasted less than 15 minutes per individual.
The dolphins were relocated to an old tributary connected to the Grande River, within the scope of the Natural Heritage Conservation Unit (UCPN) of the Northern Wetlands, managed by the departmental government.
Amazon river dolphins: an emblematic species at risk
The Amazon river dolphin (Inia boliviensis), also known as the pink river dolphin, was declared Natural Heritage of Bolivia in 2012 and is considered Cultural Heritage of the Beni Amazon. Its populations are found in the rivers of Beni, Santa Cruz, and Pando, and are classified as endangered by the IUCN, due to threats such as:
- Water pollution
- Fishing and deforestation
- Alterations of the river course
The frequency of rescues has significantly increased since 2016, and this was the most numerous one so far. In December 2023, 24 dolphins were successfully relocated, and with this new operation, the total number exceeds 100 rescued individuals under the Bufeo Conservation Program.
Network collaboration and citizen cooperation
A total of 19 people participated, including representatives from:
- Santa Cruz Governorate
- Noel Kempff Mercado Museum
- Voluntary Foundation Cros El Torno
- K-9 Unit
- Friends of Nature Foundation (FAN)
- La Moneda Agricultural Property
- Nick’s Adventures Bolivia
- Local volunteers
These periodic rescues are key to avoiding the loss of individuals in areas of low water levels, highlighting the value of community early warnings and the coordination between public, private, and scientific actors.
Cover photo: Edson Cortez
