Amazon River Dolphin – Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio

Population

Population threats

: Presently, one of the major threats to these animals’ population is the continued development of the river systems, which are the natural habitat of these dolphins: they suffer from separation of their range into smaller sections due to hydroelectric or irrigation schemes, damming rivers. Feeding on aquatic animals, the dolphins compete with local fishermen. Moreover, the animals are threatened by the fishing process, during which they can accidentally be caught in fishing nets or injured because of collisions with boats and motors.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Amazon river dolphin is unknown today, but there are estimated populations in certain areas. Thus, in the Amazon basin, there are 107 individuals in the Solimões River (Brazil), 346 individuals in the Amazon River bordering Peru and Colombia, around 260 individuals in the Mamirauá Lake system of Brazil, and 13.000 individuals in the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve. The Orinoco basin holds 122 individuals in the Apuré River (Venezuela), 14-15 individuals in the Orinoco River (Venezuela), and 8 individuals in the Casiquiare River (Venezuela). Currently, this species is classified as Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List.

Ecological niche

Amazon River dolphins have an important role as predators of the river, and prey on a range of fish species, thus controlling their populations.