River dolphins such as the Amazon river dolphin are among the most endangered dolphin species in the world.
The construction of dams, contamination of the waters, loss of habitat, bycatch and targeted killing are the greatest threats.
Directly affected by targeted killing for several years is the Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis). In Brazil, up to 1,500 animals are killed annually because their meat is highly sought after. But not because humans eat it, but rather because the Inia meat is used as bait to catch a catfish(Calophysus macropterus) about 45 cm long.
The demand for this catfish meat has risen sharply, especially in Colombia, leading to more and more dolphins being killed. The quick profit attracts more and more fishermen to the river. According to the scientist Vera da Silva(INPA, Manaus), the number of communities involved in this fishery has increased significantly. Initial population counts already show that certain local populations of the Amazon dolphin are declining.
YAQU PACHA is currently working together with PROYECTO SOTALIA in Venezuela in the dolphin conservation of the Amazon dolphin(Inia geoffrensis).
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Long-term core tasks of this species conservation project are:
- Capturing the real problem in numbers
- Public awareness and environmental education
- Regulation and control of fishing
- Creation of alternative sources of revenue for fishing communities.
Project La Plata dolphin | Project Vaquita | Project Manatis | Project Seals | Manati | Chilean dolphin | Vaquita | La Plata dolphin | Species protection | Project Sotalia dolphin | 30 years of YAQU PACHA e.V. | Species whose protection YAQU PACHA is working on | 25 years of Franciscana Toninha research