Amazon River at record low from drought: Freshwater dolphins are dying

The drought's impact extends beyond wildlife. Riverine communities across the Amazon are facing unprecedented challenges.

In Short

• Shrinking lake has forced dolphins into closer proximity with human
• Two dolphins were recently killed in collisions with vessels
• This tragic situation highlights the increasing conflict between wildlife and human needs

The Amazon river basin is facing its worst drought on record, with devastating consequences for wildlife and local communities.

In Lake Tefe, a critical habitat for endangered freshwater dolphins, water levels continue to drop, exposing sand banks and leaving less space for these rare aquatic mammals.

Researchers from the Mamiraua Institute for Sustainable Development are witnessing the dire effects of this environmental crisis. Miriam Marmontel, head of the dolphin project, reports finding dead animals at an alarming rate of one per day on average.

While the exact cause of these deaths is still under investigation, the extreme conditions are undoubtedly contributing factors.

The shrinking lake has forced dolphins into closer proximity with human activities, particularly boat traffic.

In the narrowed main channel, now only 2 meters deep and 100 meters wide, two dolphins were recently killed in collisions with vessels. This tragic situation highlights the increasing conflict between wildlife and human needs in a rapidly changing ecosystem.

The drought's impact extends beyond wildlife. Riverine communities across the Amazon are facing unprecedented challenges. Many are stranded as water levels become too shallow for boat transportation, their primary means of travel and commerce.

Francisco Alvaro Santos, a Lake Tefe resident, told Reuters the community's distress: "Water is everything to us. It is part of our daily lives, the means of transportation for everyone who lives here. Without water, we are nobody!"

The severity of this year's drought has caught many off guard. Clodomar Lima, a local fisherman, remarked, "Nobody thought this drought would come so quickly or imagine that it would surpass last year's drought."

With more than a month remaining in the dry season, concerns are mounting about further deterioration of conditions.

Last year's drought resulted in the deaths of over 200 endangered freshwater dolphins in Lake Tefe due to excessive water temperatures. While this year's toll has not yet reached those numbers, researchers fear the situation could worsen as water levels continue to decline.

As the Amazon faces this environmental crisis, the plight of its unique wildlife and the resilience of its communities are being severely tested.