Wildlife

River Dolphin Conservation Welfare

Freshwater dolphins including the Amazon river dolphin face critical threats from fishing, pollution, and dam construction.

Key Facts

Amazon river dolphins (botos) face growing threats from hunting and bycatch
Yangtze river dolphins (baiji) are functionally extinct from human impact
River dolphins are caught in fishing nets and killed deliberately for fish bait
Dam construction fragments river dolphin populations into isolated groups

Welfare Considerations

River dolphins caught as bycatch experience drowning stress and traumatic injury. Those deliberately killed for use as fishing bait suffer directly. Population fragmentation from dams prevents gene flow and reduces mate choice. Pollution accumulates in freshwater environments causing chronic toxin exposure. River dolphins represent some of the most imperiled and welfare-compromised cetaceans globally.

What You Can Do

Support river dolphin conservation programs in South America and Asia
Advocate for dolphin-safe fishing practices in river fisheries
Donate to organizations monitoring and protecting river dolphin populations
Learn about river dolphin ecology and share conservation awareness