In early October 2023, it was reported that more than 120 pink river dolphins had been found dead in Lake Tefé, which is connected to the Amazon River. Local scientists hypothesize that the deaths occurred because the region has experienced record heat and drought, which in turn places the blame on human-caused climate change. Yet in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and other sources, other direct efforts will be necessary to save pink river dolphins — and, for that matter, all six surviving species of river dolphins — from extinction.
Many nations are aware of these risks, and one proposal to address it is the Global Declaration for River Dolphins, which was signed earlier this month by 11 out of the 14 countries that are native to river dolphins.
