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☆ After Decades of Decline, a Feathered Icon Breeds in New Zealand’s Capital
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Pete Mckenzie | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

At the foot of a towering fern, Pete Kirkman pushed his hand through a curtain of dead branches into a burrow. Baffled by the daylight, the chocolate-colored nocturnal bird shook its pencil-like beak from side to side. “You’re OK,” Mr. Kirkman, a conservationist, said soothingly, as he made the discovery last week. He watched in delight as another hatchling charged out, searching for its sibling, and fell into his arms. Starting in the 1800s, millions were slaughtered by nonnative predators like stoats, a mammal related to the weasel.

Persons: Pete Kirkman, Mr, Kirkman Organizations: New, kiwis Locations: New Zealanders

☆ Stunning video shows Antarctic killer whales appearing to use icebergs as scratching posts, possibly to exfoliate their skin
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

National Geographic said it captured the first footage of killer whales rubbing up against an iceberg. AdvertisementOrcas living in the freezing waters of Antarctica have been captured in footage rubbing up against icebergs in what could be an innovative skincare technique. AdvertisementLike humans, whales and dolphins typically shed their skin continuously, and most of them have no problem doing this in warmer waters. The study found that some antarctic killer whales make an essentially nonstop, nearly 7,000-mile migration to warmer waters that takes six to eight weeks. While the reasons whales migrate remain a mystery, the study argued the evidence suggests "deferred skin molt could be the main driver of long-distance migration for antarctic killer whales."

Persons: —, Robert Pitman, Pitman, Andrew Trites Organizations: Service, National Geographic, Newsweek, Mammal, Oregon State, Mammal Institute, Pacific Northwest, Northern, Marine Mammal Research, University of British Locations: Antarctica, molting, Pacific, British Colombia, Canada, University of British Columbia

☆ Soviet whalers wiped out blue whales from part of the Indian Ocean 50 years ago. Underwater audio reveals the gentle giants have returned.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Blue whales near the Seychelles were wiped out half a century ago by whaling. They found blue whales had returned to the area, and think the whales may be using it for breeding. AdvertisementA population of blue whales near the Seychelles islands in the Indian Ocean that was wiped out half a century ago has returned after the area was protected, according to a new study. Like many whale species, blue whale populations were depleted by commercial whaling in the 20th century. After several reported sightings of blue whales near the Seychelles, scientists set out to determine if the species had really returned.

Persons: —, Kate Stafford, it's, Stafford Organizations: Service, Research, Oregon State, Mammal Institute, BBC, Soviet Union, International Union for, Nature Locations: Seychelles, Soviet

☆ Scientists discovered a new way these bats with shockingly large penises mate, and it's unlike anything ever observed in mammals
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Maiya Focht | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

By chance, researchers noticed that one bat species had a very large penis. In fact, the researchers explained in the paper, the male bat's penis is seven times longer and wider than the female bat's vagina. A scientific peep show and future bat porn boxThe researchers observed the serotine bat in the attic of a church and a bat rehabilitation center. The researchers observed 97 mating rituals. Then, the male bat held the female in an "extended embrace".

Persons: —, uglies, Nicolas Fasel, Fasel, Olivier Glaizot Organizations: Service, American Association for, Advancement of Science, University of Lausanne, Diversity Locations: Europe, Ukraine

☆ Planting 'koala corridors' to save Australia's endangered marsupial
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Jill Gralow | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BANGALOW, Australia, Nov 22 (Reuters) - When Lucy was rescued from a rural property in New South Wales two years ago, she was suffering from chlamydia, a disease widespread among koalas. Today, she's one of the lucky residents of tree corridors in the Australian state dedicated to protecting the marsupial by preserving its rapidly shrinking habitat. "Our corridors are actually trying to get them away from humans, from cars, from dogs," said Linda Sparrow, president of Bangalow Koalas. [1/5]Lucy, an adult female Koala sits in a eucalyptus tree planted by Bangalow Koalas, in Bangalow, Australia in this undated image. Saul Goodwin/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsFounded in 2019, Bangalow Koalas has planted over 336,000 trees on 119 properties, contributing to koala conservation and boosting the local ecosystem.

Persons: Lucy, Linda Sparrow, Bangalow, Bangalow Koalas, Saul Goodwin, Handout, Sparrow, Lindy Stacker, Jill Gralow, Alasdair Pal, Miral Organizations: Australia, REUTERS Acquire, Australian Koala Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, Thomson Locations: BANGALOW, Australia, New South Wales, Northern Rivers, Bangalow, Northern, Queensland

☆ Eptesicus serotinus: Unusual mating behavior discovered in mammals for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Also known by the scientific name Eptesicus serotinus, serotine bats mate by touching their genitals together. The behavior is similar to a “cloacal kiss,” a way of mating used by many birds. The information on bat mating behavior could help with efforts to come up with a way to artificially inseminate endangered bat species. “It’s a bit of an open question how their semen really gets into the female reproductive tract. “There are more than 1,000 species of bats, and many of them are also endangered, she said.

Persons: Nicolas Fasel, ”, ” Fasel, Olivier, Fasel, Teri Orr, ” Orr, “, Alan Dixson, hadn’t, Susanne Holtze, Holtze, ’ ” Orr Organizations: CNN —, University of Lausanne, New Mexico State University, Victoria University of Wellington, Leibniz Institute for Zoo, Wildlife Research Locations: Switzerland, “, Dutch, Netherlands, Ukraine, New, New Zealand, Berlin

☆ When people move out, wildlife moves in: 10 abandoned places reclaimed by nature
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Arya Jyothi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

The temple and surrounding forested areas were abandoned three centuries later, when the king moved the capital of the empire away from Angkor. People started moving out in the 1990s and by 2002, the village was completely abandoned. People started moving out in the 1990s and by 2002, the village was completely abandoned. The Whanganui River holds 18 fish species including eels, freshwater crayfish and black flounders. Graham Harries/ShutterstockLocated off the Pembrokeshire coast in west Wales, stands a time capsule in the form of a long-abandoned island fort.

Persons: Prohm, King Jayavarman, Alexander Arndt, Angelina Jolie’s, “ Lara Croft, pileated gibbons, silvered, Johannes Eisele, Leo Francini, Marcio Martins, University of São Paulo, Martins, “, Al Madam, Giuseppe Cacace, Yasuyoshi Chiba, James Beasley, allan wright, Kilda, Graham Harries, Shutterstock, Nicholas Mueller, ”, Mueller Organizations: CNN, Wildlife Alliance, ., Steam, SS, Titanic, Cyclone, University of São, Google Arts & Culture, National Institute of Ecology, Al, Getty, United Arab, Japan Earthquake, University of Georgia, TED, UNESCO Locations: CNN —, Europe, Ta Prohm, Cambodia, Angkor Thom, Khmer, Angkor, Shengshan Island, China, AFP, Houtouwan, Shengshan, Zhoushan, Mangapurua, , New Zealand, Nowhere, Mangapurua Valley, New, Whanganui, North, Australia, Grande, Brazil, Sao Paulo, Marcio, Korea, South Korea, Al Madam Village, UAE, Al, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sharjah, Fukushima, Japan, St Kilda, Scotland, Scotland’s, Kilda, Atlantic, Soay, Boreray, Fort, Wales, Pembrokeshire

☆ Sailors playing heavy metal to scare killer whales may be putting a target on their backs by telling the orcas exactly where to find them
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Some sailors off the Iberian coast are turning to heavy metal to deter orcas from ramming into their boats. The music will also add to human-made ocean noise, which is already a major issue for marine animals. AdvertisementSailors using heavy metal music to deter orcas from ramming into their boats could find that the strategy backfires. AdvertisementAdditionally, Trites told Business Insider that if sailors adopted this method, the most harmful result would be an addition to noise pollution in the ocean. Human-caused noise pollution comes from a variety of sources, including ships, energy production via wind turbines, underwater mining, and even low-flying planes.

Persons: —, Andrew Trites, Trites Organizations: Service, New York Times, Marine Mammal Research, University of British, NOAA, Sound Locations: University of British Columbia

☆ Dire wolves, camels, and other extinct giant mammals that used to live in North America
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

North America used to be crawling with giant mammals, from dire wolves to big cats. In North America, "you only get the woolly mammoths up in the north, starting around the Great Lakes," Lindsey said. AdvertisementOnce thought to be the cousins of gray wolves, dire wolves evolved separately over 5 million years ago in North America. AdvertisementThe ancient bison, Bison antiquus, was 25% larger than those living today. A recent study suggested modern bison — Bison biso — evolved from this species.

Persons: —, wasn't, Emily Lindsey, Markus Matzel, Lindsey, Mike Kemp, mastodons, Benji Paysnoe, Camelops, Spencer, scotti, Daniel Eskridge, Andrew Milligan, scimitars, Jeffrey Greenberg, priscus, Katherine Frey, it's Organizations: Service, National Park Service, National, South America, AP, Universal, Washington Locations: America, Asia, Australia, South America, Alaska, North America, Africa, Bering, Mexico, Costa Rica, Great, Canadian Yukon, of Panama, North, South, Eurasia, Americas, Spanish, Canada, Florida, Yukon, Gulf, Central, South Asia, China, California

☆ Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, and more celebrities with species named after them
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

An eponym is a scientific species name that comes from a real or fictional person. Scientists have named many species after celebrities. They either want to honor the person, bring attention to the species, or both. When choosing a two-word scientific name, researchers have long drawn inspiration from everything from myths to music to literature. Others are trying to generate some buzz around a vulnerable species.

Persons: — Organizations: Service

LONDON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Scientists have rediscovered a long-lost species of mammal described as having the spines of a hedgehog, the snout of an anteater and the feet of a mole, in Indonesia's Cyclops Mountains more than 60 years after it was last recorded. The species has only been scientifically recorded once before, by a Dutch botanist in 1961. A different echidna species is found throughout Australia and lowland New Guinea. Kempton's team survived an earthquake, malaria and even a leech attached to an eyeball during their trip. They worked with the local village Yongsu Sapari to navigate and explore the remote terrain of northeastern Papua.

Persons: David Attenborough, James Kempton, Kempton, Kempton's, Yongsu, William James, Alex Richardson Organizations: Oxford University, Thomson Locations: British, Dutch, Australia, New Guinea, Papua

☆ Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna: Long-lost mammal rediscovered in Indonesia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Scientists have rediscovered a long-lost species of mammal described as having the spines of a hedgehog, the snout of an anteater and the feet of a mole, in Indonesia’s Cyclops Mountains more than 60 years after it was last recorded. Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna, named after British naturalist David Attenborough, was photographed for the first time by a trail camera on the last day of a four-week expedition led by Oxford University scientists. A different echidna species is found throughout Australia and lowland New Guinea. Kempton’s team survived an earthquake, malaria and even a leech attached to an eyeball during their trip. They worked with the local village Yongsu Sapari to navigate and explore the remote terrain of northeastern Papua.

Persons: David Attenborough, James Kempton, ”, “, ‘, ” Kempton, Kempton’s, Yongsu Organizations: CNN —, Oxford University Locations: British, Dutch, Australia, New Guinea, Papua

☆ With the Strikes Over, the Mood in Hollywood Is Decidedly Mixed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Brooks Barnes | More About Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But Disney+, Paramount+, Peacock and others continue to lose money. Most analysts say that there are too many streaming services and that the weakest will ultimately close or merge with bigger competitors. The entertainment industry’s underlying cable television and box office problems also remain dire, in some cases growing worse during the five months it took to restore labor peace. In July, Disney announced that it was exploring a once-unthinkable sale of a stake in ESPN, the cable giant that has powered much of Disney’s growth over the past two decades. Paramount Global’s once-venerable cable portfolio, centered on Nickelodeon and MTV, has also been pummeled by cord cutting; Paramount shares have dropped nearly 50 percent since May.

Persons: ” Zack Stentz, “, “ Thor, ”, Max, Peacock, Paramount Global’s Organizations: Netflix, Hulu, Warner Bros, Discovery, Paramount, Comcast, Disney, ESPN, Nickelodeon, MTV

☆ An Arizona golf course is under attack from a squadron of pig-like creatures
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And when the Arizona sunshine breaks over Seven Canyons in the morning, the destruction is revealed. “When you come upon them and see them, it’s like The Tasmanian devil,” Seven Canyons general manager Dave Bisbee told CNN. A javelina at Seven Canyons golf course. Seven Canyons is ringed by the Vermilion Cliffs. “If anything this at least has put us in front of millions of people who didn’t know where Seven Canyons was.

Persons: Dave Bisbee, there’s, ”, fatefully, Emily Casey, emcaseyturf, “, javelina, Bisbee, Casey, Em Casey, @emcaseyturf, we’d, ” Bisbee Organizations: CNN, United, Seven Canyons, Arizona State Department of, Coconino National Forest, Bisbee, Arizona, Fish Department, National Geographic, Wall Street Locations: United States, Arizona, Sedona, South America, Vermilion, Coconino, Bisbee, AZ

☆ Mysterious mouse mummies found in Mars-like conditions on Andean mountain peaks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

So how did a species of leaf-eared mouse make this barren land their home? The mice, called Phyllotis vaccarum, are commonly found living in the Andes mountains at lower elevations, all the way down to sea level. In 2020, a living mouse was recorded at the summit of Llullaillaco, a volcano with an elevation of 6,739 meters (about 22,110 feet) on the border of Chile. The discovery of the living mouse spurred Storz to conduct expeditions at 21 different volcanoes. Freeze-dried mouse mummiesWhile the conditions are not ideal for living creatures, they create perfect conditions for preservation, as the mice are essentially freeze dried, Storz said.

Persons: Jay Storz, Jay Storz “, we’ve, ”, Storz, “, “ It’s, it’s, ” Storz, Emmanuel Fabián Ruperto, Ruperto Organizations: CNN, University of Nebraska, Geographic, NASA, Argentine Institute for Dryland Research Locations: Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, United States, Atacama, Llullaillaco, Lincoln, Mendoza

☆ Bird flu detected in Antarctic for the first time, British Antarctic Survey says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Akanksha Sharma | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The first cases of bird flu have been detected in seabirds in the Antarctic, according to the British Antarctic Survey, raising fears the disease will spread rapidly through dense colonies of birds and mammals. “Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in brown skua populations on Bird Island, South Georgia – the first known cases in the Antarctic region,” the British Antarctic Survey said in a statement Monday. South Georgia is part of the British overseas territory east of South America’s tip and just above Antarctica’s main landmass. The British Antarctic Survey believes the birds carried the disease on their return from migration to South America. The British Antarctic Survey, which is responsible for the UK’s national scientific activities in Antarctica, operates two research stations on South Georgia, including one at Bird Island where the confirmed cases were identified.

Persons: OFFLU, – Organizations: CNN, British Antarctic Survey, South Georgia –, Centers for Disease Control, Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations, Organisation for Animal Health Locations: South Georgia, Georgia, South, South America, Antarctica, Bird, Japan

☆ Whale watchers spotted a 'super rare' white orca in California
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Whale watchers in California spotted a "super rare" white orca. The orca was hunting in a pack with its mother, according to Monterey Bay Whale Watch. AdvertisementAdvertisementA 'super rare' white killer whale dazzled watchers in California as it hunted with its mother. Monterey Bay Whale Watch announced the spotting of the orca whale named "Frosty" on October 15 in a Facebook post. AdvertisementAdvertisement"Frosty the super rare white Killer Whale!!

Persons: —, Frosty, MBWW Organizations: Monterey Bay Whale Watch, Service, Whale Watch, University of St, Guardian, National Library of Medicine Locations: California, Monterey Bay, Monterey, University of St Andrews

Here are the meanings of the 10 hardest words that have also been used in Times articles. — A Taiwan Museum Featuring All of Asia (Oct. 6, 2016)5. tactual — related to touch:“This is something you can learn so quickly,” she said. “You may not become an Olympic rider that fast, but it is a skill you can gain competence in so quickly as opposed to other sports. It’s amazing in terms of the tactual sense. — As Dead Dolphins Wash Ashore, Ukraine Builds a Case of Ecocide Against Russia (Aug. 17, 2023)The list of the week’s easiest words:

Persons: Hahn’s, Sue Williams, Lisa Yuskavage, Judith Linhares, Dana Schutz, Heidi Hahn, Jack Hanley, ”, Kan, tantara, arhat, tactual, “, lunula, gigue, — Katherine Hoffman, Dr, Kerner, cetacean, Goldin Organizations: “ Star, Christian, Taiwan, Dolphins, Ecocide Locations: Lawrence, Edo, Japan, —, Asia, Florida, Ukraine

☆ Russia moves its combat dolphins closer to the frontline to defend against Ukrainian special forces, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia moved its trained dolphin force to a different part of the Black Sea, Naval News reported. It comes at a time when Ukraine is ramping up attacks on Russian naval assests in the Black Sea. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia has moved its navy-trained dolphins closer to where fighting is happening in the Ukraine war, Naval News reported on Wednesday. The pens were initially spotted in the summer around Sevastopol, a major port on the Black Sea. Ukraine has become an increasingly threatening force in the Black Sea after it launched multiple attacks using underwater sea drones.

Persons: — Organizations: Naval News, Service, Naval, United States Naval Institute, UK Ministry of Defence Locations: Russia, Novoozerne, Ukraine, Crimea, Sevastopol

☆ Gray whales have been mysteriously washing up dead on the Pacific coast. Now scientists think they might have the answer.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Gray whales have been dying off at an alarming rate since 2019. Scientists at Oregon State think the deaths could be due to melting sea ice, a new study says. Two other mass die-offs of gray whales occurred in the 1980s and 1990s, though those only lasted a couple of years; the latest is still ongoing. "Even highly mobile, long-lived species such as gray whales are sensitive to climate change impacts," Stewart said. And while he said we probably do not have to worry about extinction, we may have to simply get used to having fewer gray whales.

Persons: Gray, —, emaciation, Joshua Stewart, we've, Stewart Organizations: Oregon State, Service, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Mammal, Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon Locations: Oregon, Mexico, Alaska, Baja, Oregon State

☆ Ken Burns Turns His Camera on America’s Beleaguered Buffalo
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Emily Bobrow | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Ken Burns says he has been thinking about the American buffalo all of his life: “It may be the most important mammal in the history of the United States.” He explains that this “magnificent” yet beleaguered animal, which roamed the Great Plains in the tens of millions less than 200 years ago, has often stalked the background of his films—figuratively and literally—during his career as a documentarian of Americana. “The buffalo intersects with all these interesting parts of American history,” he says, which is why he’s been plotting a project about its fate for nearly 40 years. But he’s glad that he waited. Time, he says, has helped him to better understand the nuances of what he calls an “epic American calamity.”

Persons: Ken Burns, ”, he’s Locations: United States

☆ One-third of the world's captive orcas are in the US, and no one can agree on what to do with them
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Erin Heger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

There are 18 captive orcas in the US. Captive orcas can also show signs of chronic stress. Captive orcas can suffer a number of health problems including severe tooth damage. The history of releasing captive orcas in the USOnly one captive orca in the US has ever been released back into the ocean — Keiko, the orca who starred in the 1993 film "Free Willy." Captive orcas can't thrive in small tanks but may not thrive in the wild, either.

Persons: Naomi Rose, Rose, Marcos del Mazo, Monika Wieland Shields, Tilikum, Shields, aren't, Chris Dold, Dold, Keiko, Willy, Colin Davey, Keiko wasn't, Mark Palmer, Palmer, Little Grey, White, Aaron Chown, Lori Marino, Marino, Paul Harris, we've, Serge MELESAN, orcas Organizations: SeaWorld, Animal, Service, Animal Welfare Institute, Orca Behavior, Magnolia Pictures, Miami Seaquarium, Miami Herald, Tribune, Getty, Mammal, PETA Locations: SeaWorld, SeaWorld Orlando, Florida, Mexico City, Oregon, Iceland, Norway, Washington, Caribbean, Nova Scotia

The scientists found large whales such as humpbacks and North Atlantic right whales were among the most vulnerable to climate change, and that other toothed whales and dolphins were also at high risk. The scientists looked at the animals' degree of exposure to climate change and sensitivity and capacity to adapt to it. “The U.S. is one of the most data-rich countries when it comes to marine mammals, and those data should be driving what are arguably some of the world’s strongest laws to protect marine mammals," she said. But the way climate change affects the giant animals is global in nature, so the broader approach is helpful, she said. Climate change also could affect the distribution and behavior of marine mammals, the study states.

Persons: Matthew Lettrich, ” Lettrich, Regina Asmutis, Silvia, “, Laura Ganley, Ganley, ”, Gib Brogan, ” Brogan, Patrick Whittle Organizations: —, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, U.S, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Conservation, Anderson Cabot Center, Ocean, New, Aquarium, AP Locations: PORTLAND, Maine, U.S, North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Massachusetts, Boston, New England, United States, of Maine, Georgia, Florida, Canada, Oceana

☆ An orca pod has been harassing and killing porpoises for decades — but they don't eat them. Scientists still don't know why.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | Maiya Focht | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But oddly enough, the killer whales don't eat the animals. Orcas are killing porpoises but not eating themFrom 1962 to 2020, researchers recorded and studied 78 episodes of Southern Resident Killer Whales harassing and, in many cases, killing multiple types of porpoises. They lead the majority of their lives in a group setting, in pods of up to 20 other killer whales, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The orcas' choice not to eat the porpoises was consistent with what Marino had seen in her years in the field. And sometimes they show them how to do it and then they don't actually eat the animal," she said.

Persons: —, Eric Lowenbach, Lori Marino, Martin Ruegner, Marino, We've, orcas, Serge Melesean, Deborah Giles, Giles Organizations: Service, Southern, Mammal, British Columbia, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Newsweek Locations: Pacific, North Pacific, Washington , Oregon, British, Mayotte, France

☆ Mass death of Amazon river dolphins linked to severe drought, heat
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Bruno Kelly | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

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

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