Current:Home > InvestMore than 100 dolphins found dead in Brazilian Amazon as water temperatures soar -ThriveEdge Finance
More than 100 dolphins found dead in Brazilian Amazon as water temperatures soar
View
Date:2025-04-13 09:56:42
SAO PAULO — More than 100 dolphins have died in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest in the past week as the region grapples with a severe drought, and many more could die soon if water temperatures remain high, experts say.
The Mamiraua Institute, a research group of Brazil's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, said two more dead dolphins were found Monday in the region around Tefe Lake, which is key for mammals and fish in the area. Video provided by the institute showed vultures picking at the dolphin carcasses beached on the lakeside. Thousands of fish have also died, local media reported.
Experts believe high water temperatures are the most likely cause of the deaths in the lakes in the region. Temperatures since last week have exceeded 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Tefe Lake region.
The Brazilian government's Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, which manages conservation areas, said last week it had sent teams of veterinarians and aquatic mammal experts to investigate the deaths.
There had been some 1,400 river dolphins in Tefe Lake, said Miriam Marmontel, a researcher from the Mamiraua Institute.
"In one week we have already lost around 120 animals between the two of them, which could represent 5% to 10% of the population," said Marmontel.
Workers have recovered carcasses of dolphins since last week in a region where dry rivers have impacted impoverished riverside communities and stuck their boats in the sand. Amazonas Gov. Wilson Lima on Friday declared a state of emergency due to the drought.
Nicson Marreira, mayor of Tefe, a city of 60,000 residents. said his government was unable to deliver food directly to some isolated communities because the rivers are dry.
Ayan Fleischmann, the Geospatial coordinator at the Mamirauá Institute, said the drought has had a major impact on the riverside communities in the Amazon region.
"Many communities are becoming isolated, without access to good quality water, without access to the river, which is their main means of transportation," he said.
Fleischmann said water temperatures rose from 32 C (89 F) on Friday to almost 38 C (100 F) on Sunday.
He said they are still determining the cause of the dolphin deaths but that the high temperature remains the main candidate.
veryGood! (1424)
Related
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- United Methodists endorse change that could give regions more say on LGBTQ and other issues
- Watch family members reunite with soldiers after 9 months of waiting
- Summer House's Carl Radke Reveals His Influencer Income—And Why Lindsay Hubbard Earns More
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- Sophia Bush Details “Heartbreak” of Her Fertility Journey
- GOP mulls next move after Kansas governor vetoes effort to help Texas in border security fight
- Caleb Williams' NFL contract details: How much will NFL draft's No. 1 pick earn?
- Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
- Professor William Decker’s Bio
Ranking
- 'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
- NCAA can't cave to anti-transgender hysteria and fear like NAIA did
- Why is everyone telling you to look between letters on your keyboard? Latest meme explained
- House approves bill to criminalize organ retention without permission
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Harvey Weinstein timeline: The movie mogul's legal battles before NY conviction overturned
- The Best Gifts For Moms Who Say They Don't Want Anything for Mother's Day
- Tennessee lawmakers OK bill criminalizing adults who help minors receive gender-affirming care
Recommendation
Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
Native American tribes want US appeals court to weigh in on $10B SunZia energy transmission project
Bears have prime opportunity to pick a superstar receiver in draft for Caleb Williams
Philadelphia Eagles give wide receiver A.J. Brown a record contract extension
Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
Alabama lawmakers advance bill that could lead to prosecution of librarians
Fleeing suspect fatally shot during gunfire exchange with police in northwest Indiana
Gay actor’s speech back on at Pennsylvania school after cancellation over his ‘lifestyle’