REUTERS/Bruno Kelly/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANAUS, Oct 2 (Reuters) - The carcasses of 120 river dolphins have been found floating on a tributary of the Amazon River since last week in circumstances that experts suspect were caused by severe drought and heat.
Low river levels during a severe drought have heated water in stretches to temperatures that are intolerable for the dolphins, researchers believe.
The Amazon river dolphins, many of a striking pink color, are unique freshwater species found only in the rivers of South America and are one of a handful of freshwater dolphin species left in the world.
The scientists do not know with total certainty that drought and heat are to blame for the spike in dolphin mortality.
Global warming's role in the current Amazon drought is unclear, with other factors such as El Nino at play.
Persons:
Bruno Kelly, El Nino, Miriam Marmontel, Marmontel, Brazil's Chico Mendes, Anthony Boadle, Brad Haynes, Jonathan Oatis
Organizations:
Mamiraua Institute, Sustainable Development, REUTERS, Rights, Environmental, El, International Union for Conservation, Brazil's Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, Thomson
Locations:
Tefe, Amazonas, Brazil, Rights MANAUS, South America, Tefé's, Lake Tefé, Tefé