The Sotalia or Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) is one of the smaller dolphin species and lives exclusively in South America along a narrow coastal strip from Honduras to Brazil. Due to its coastal distribution, this species is severely affected by human activities. In Venezuela, the main areas of distribution are the Orinoco River and Lake Maracaibo.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) classifies the Guiana dolphin Sotalia guianensis as near threatened (NT) on its Red List. At the regional level, however, the species is classified as endangered. Due to the increase in fishing activity throughout its entire range, as well as habitat destruction, there is concern that local populations may be at risk of disappearing entirely in the future. A lack of monitoring and control has dramatically worsened the situation for these dolphin populations.
YAQU PACHA has been working with several partners for many years to protect this species of dolphin.
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