'Pretty in Pink' Dolphins are an Endangered Species

Source: Warren, S 2013, 'Protecting Dolphins Pink', Scholastic Superscience, 24, 7, pp. 4-7, Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre, EBSCOhost, viewed 18 May 2013.

Many people don't know that Amazon dolphins are born grey, but as they age, they turn pink. According to Warren (2013, p.5), some dolphins are as bright as pink bubble gum.

It is estimated that river dolphins have existed in the Amazon for 30 million years (Warren, 2013, p.5). These dolphins, called botos in South America, can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh 400 lbs (Warren, 2013, p.6). Traditionally, people have believed that botos can come out of the water, transform into humans, and even sneak into parties!(Warren, 2013, p.6)

These amazing dolphins are now under the threat of extinction, as fishermen have been killing them and using the meat as bait to catch a certain type of catfish (Warren, 2013, p.6). Even fishermen that don't use the botos as bait have been slaughtering them, so that the dolphins don't eat the fish that they are trying to catch (Warren, 2013, p.6).

To read more about the botos and the efforts of scientists in trying to preserve this species, login to EBSCOhost's Australian and New Zealand Reference Centre with your library card's barcode.

Rayyan

Reference
Warren, S 2013, 'Protecting Dolphins Pink', Scholastic Superscience, 24, 7, pp. 4-7, Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre, EBSCOhost, viewed 14 May 2013.


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