The dead dolphins were found in Lake Tefé in the Amazon region last week. The temperature in the lake has risen to over 39 degrees Celsius in some places.
More than a hundred Amazon dolphins have been found dead in Brazil’s Amazon region, news media say, among other things CNN and a newspaper The Guardian.
The species is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and is one of only six remaining freshwater dolphin species in the world.
All the dead dolphins were found in Lake Tefé last week, according to the Mamirauá Institute, which is funded by Brazil’s Ministry of Science. The institute speculates that the cause of the deaths is the drought period afflicting the region and the high water temperature, which in some places has exceeded 39 degrees Celsius.
– It is still too early to determine the cause of this extreme phenomenon, but according to our experts, it is certainly related to the dryness and the water temperature in Lake Tefé, a representative of the institute commented to CNN.
Geoscience researcher at the Institute Ayan Fleischmann commented to The Guardian that the role of diseases and sewage in the mass deaths of dolphins is also being investigated. However, Fleischmann emphasized that the depth of the water and its temperature are “certainly the main reason” for the deaths.
– 39 degrees Celsius was measured in the lake yesterday. By comparison, 37 degrees would be considered a hot bath for humans, Fleischmann said.
According to CNN, scientists and activists are working to save the surviving dolphins by moving them to the main Amazon River, where the water is cooler. The operation is difficult due to the remote location of the area.
– In addition, transferring dolphins to other bodies of water is not very safe, because it is important to check whether they contain toxins or viruses [ennen kuin eläin vapautetaan luontoon]researcher at the Mamirauá Institute André Coelho told CNN.