ING

LÉ
S
 “Year of the Bicentennial, of the consolidation of
our Independence, and of the commemoration of
the heroic battles of Junín and Ayacucho”

MEMBERS : •Linder Alexander Huamaní Jiménez

•Luis Morales Soto
•Alhelí Sofía Cabrera Paco

REACHER : Julissa Peña Pino

COURSE : ENGLISH

2024
FINAL PROJECT :
WRITTEN WORK
" THE ENDANGERED PINK
DOLPHIN "
 CHARACTERISTICS

It is the largest river dolphin or also known as (bufeo); The weight of

adult males reaches 185 kg and they can measure up to 2.5 m. As a
distinctive character, adults acquire a pink color, more accentuated in
males. It is one of the cetaceans with the most evident sexual
dimorphism, since males measure and weigh between 16% and 55%
more than females. Like other odontocetes, it has an organ called a
melon that it uses for echolocation. The dorsal fin is low in height but
very long and its pectoral fins are large. This characteristic, together
with its medium size and the lack of fusion of the cervical vertebrae,
gives it a great capacity for maneuver to move through the flooded
forest and to capture its prey.
 HABITATION
The pink river dolphin is a
solitary species; mothers are
generally found with their
babies, or at most in groups of
up to 4 individuals. The pink
dolphin is widely distributed
among the Orinoco and Amazon
river systems of Venezuela,
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and
Brazil.

Imagine being along the Amazon River on a luxurious cruise ship,

when suddenly you hear the chorus singing of a pod of dolphins. You
look out to see this beautiful specimen, but you come across an even
bigger surprise: they do not have that characteristic gray tone, but
rather are pink. Yes, it is not a mistake, you are reading correctly: they
are pink.

This is the pink dolphin, a species that lives exclusively in fresh water.
You can find this specimen in rivers, canals, forests flooded by rain
and lakes in the eastern Amazon area of ​Peru.
 IT FEEDS

It has the widest diet among

odontocetes; It feeds mainly on
fish, of which 53 different species
have been identified, including
corvinas, tetras and piranhas. It
complements its diet with river
turtles, mollusks and crabs.
 THREATS OF ITS EXTINCTION

Although there are few studies that talk about the populations of this
species, today, approximately 188 pink dolphins are estimated
throughout its distribution area, making it one of the most endangered
species of river dolphins today. .

In 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature had

included it in the category of “vulnerable”, however, after several
investigations, the Amazon pink dolphin has moved to the category of
“endangered” and there are Estimates indicate that in less than 50
years the populations of this species could be reduced by half.
 CAUSES

The pink dolphin is at the top of the food

chain, so it has no natural predators that
can wipe out its population. As a
consequence of human activities, this
species is in danger of extinction and the
main consequence of its extinction is the
alteration of the ecosystem.

They survive under a barrage of threats:

loss of home due to dikes and dams that
fragment their populations and make
movement and reproduction difficult,
pollution from industrial discharges, oil
prospecting and exploitation, plastics and
heavy metals (such as mercury from
illegal mining to extract gold).

They are especially used to fish the fish

known as piracatinga, scientific name
Calophysus macropterus. This is the main
cause of direct death to pink dolphins.
This practice was detected in 2000 and
only in Brazil, but over time it expanded
to neighboring countries. It is estimated
that in the state of Amazonas, in Brazil,
up to 4,000 dolphins were killed each
year. The government banned this
piracatinga fishing, but it is still practiced
illegally.
 WHAT SOLUTIONS CAN WE TAKE TO PREVENT PINK
DOLPHINS FROM BEING EXTINGUISHED ?

AVOID CONTAMINATION:

When you have the opportunity to be in

the Amazon River, do not throw garbage
or elements that could affect its
ecosystem. As happens in the seas,
garbage is one of the great threats to
species, especially things made with
polymers.

AVOID ILLEGAL FISHING:

Measures can be taken to protect the natural

habitats of these dolphins and limit fishing
and pollution in their living areas. This
includes the creation of marine protected
areas and the implementation of stricter
regulations for fishing and the industry. It is
also important that studies are carried out
and the populations of these species are
monitored to have a better understanding of
their status and to be able to take
appropriate measures.

If you know of companies or people who make

excursions to the Amazon River to hunt the pink
dolphin, you can report them to the government of
the corresponding department. They will act under
animal protection programs.
 QUESTIONS TO REFLECT ABOUT THE
EXTENT OF PINK DOLPHINS
WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO SAVE THIS
ANIMAL ?
The importance of pink dolphins in the freshwater aquatic ecosystems
where they live is supported by: 1: They are the top predators in food
webs; 2: bioindicators of ecosystem health; 3: its cultural and
mythological significance in ethnic groups such as the Sikuanis of the
Orinoco and the Ticuna of the Amazon;
WHAT CONSEQUENCES COULD THE EXTINCTION OF
THE PINK DOLPHIN BRING?
The pink dolphin is at the top of the food chain, so it has no natural
predators that can wipe out its population. As a consequence of human
activities, this species is in danger of extinction and the main consequence
of its extinction is the alteration of the ecosystem. Their work is based on
maintaining fish populations, excluding those that are sick or in poor
condition.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT NOT TO POLLUTE WHERE THE
PINK DOLPHINS LIVE?
Because not only do they live there but there are also more species that live in
that place where the pink dolphins are. By not contaminating their habitat we
would be helping many more animals that could be in danger, let's be aware
of this to have a pollution-free ecosystem.

DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE STOP

POLLUTING AND CARE MORE FOR THE PLANET?
Environmental conservation guarantees and ensures the environmental services, better
known as ecosystem services, that nature provides us through which we satisfy our
basic needs (regulation and support of life). It is thanks to the conservation of our
biodiversity that:
Life is sustained on earth.
The different habitats and the protection of the natural heritage are maintained.
A large part of the territories maintain their cultural, historical, tourist and traditional
value.
 MESSAGE THAT
THE PINK
DOLPHIN GIVES
US
The Dolphin is a story of courage, of fighting
against our own limits, our own fears. It's a story
that reminds us that there is more to life than
what we see with our eyes: things we can only
discover if we follow our own rules.
 I hope that all this information has been
very helpful to us so that we become
aware that this is not a game and that we
must save these animals that are in
danger of extinction today.

THANK YOU SO MUCH !!