Animals
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Freshwater DolphinsFreshwater dolphins were once common in many of the world's major rivers before pollution and development destroyed most of their habitat. Freshwater dolphins living in India's Ganges river and China's Yangtze river are on the verge of extinction – following the same path as the now-extinct Mississippi river dolphin. Freshwater dolphins are still found in Amazon and Orinoco river tributaries, but they are also in trouble. The Amazon basin has two species of river dolphin: the bufeo (also called the bouto or boto) and the tucuxi (pronounced "too-coo-shee"). The bouto is the most unusual of the two species. It can reach up to 3 metres (9 ft) long and weight 95 kgs (190 lb), though the average size is much smaller. It lacks a dorsal fin and is the only dolphin species which actually has a neck. Yet the aspect most usual to casual observers is their colour – pink! Young boutos start off light grey, almost white colour, and turn pink as they get older. They have a long pointed snout with numerous small teeth. Boutos rarely, if ever, jump up out of the water like marine dolphins. They spend most of their time in the murky river waters hunting for fish. During the rainy season, the banks of the Amazon river and its tributaries flood out into the surrounding rainforest. This is when the boutos' agility can best be seen – zipping in and out among trees of the flooded forest, in search of food. They sometimes also swim upside down since this gives them a better view of anything hiding along the river bottom. By comparison, the tucuxi river dolphin is much smaller, and more closely resembles its marine cousins. It is grey in colour and has a shorter snout than the bouto. Tucuxi dolphins rarely venture into the flooded rainforest and spend most of their time in the main waterways. There are many local legends about the Amazon river dolphins. The most common legend is of dolphins which transform themselves into men and seduce the wives and daughters of fishermen or hunters away on long journeys or during celebrations. However, having adopted human form, it is said that these dolphins have to always wear a hat to cover their blowhole. Children born from these indiscretions are called filhos de boutos ('children of dolphins'), and are said to be intelligent and gifted. Unfortunately, dolphins were sometimes killed in acts of revenge. Some caboclos believe that a grated dolphin eye, and other by-products have powerful aphrodisiac properties. Other legends say that dolphins have magical powers and shouldn't be killed. Sadly, the Amazon river dolphins' future looks bleak. They may follow the fate of their Asian cousins as development in the Amazon basin continues. The building of hydroelectric dams has destroyed some rivers, whereas others are being destroyed as result of pollution from farms, industry and goldmining. |
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