After a 73 percent decline: Nine countries want to prevent the extinction of river dolphins

Nine countries from South America and Asia want to work together to prevent the extinction of the remaining river dolphins. Representatives of the states signed a joint statement on Tuesday in the Colombian capital Bogotá to protect these animals.

Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Nepal and Venezuela are involved. Pakistan and Peru also joined the declaration, but would not officially sign the document until the coming weeks.

The countries involved agreed to improve water quality in the dolphins’ habitat, create protected areas, combat overfishing and involve indigenous communities in the affected areas in protecting the animals.

“Improving the health of rivers”

“This declaration will help restore river dolphin populations around the world and provide hope that these iconic species will survive despite the threat,” said Stuart Orr of the conservation organization WWF.

The declaration is about more than just saving river dolphins, Orr said. “It’s also about improving the health of the great rivers that are the lifeblood of so many communities and economies and sustain important ecosystems from rainforests to deltas.”

Drop of 73 percent

According to WWF, the world’s freshwater dolphin population has declined by 73 percent since the 1980s due to pollution and fishing. There are currently six different species living in rivers such as the Amazon and Orinoco in South America or the Ganges and Mekong in Asia.

More recently, more than 100 dolphins died in the Brazilian Amazon. Scientists assumed that heat and drought could have caused the mass extinction. (sda/dpa)