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Do you know about freshwater dolphins?
Freshwater dolphins live in rivers and
estuaries in South America and Asia.
Let’s go to the Amazon.
The Amazon is the second longest river in the
world. Only the Nile is longer than the Amazon. The Amazon
dolphin is the biggest freshwater dolphin and also the most
intelligent. Their brains are 40% bigger than human brains. They
like to play with the indigenous people of the Amazon and also
they rescue people when they fall out of their canoes. They are
pink.
Another South American freshwater dolphin is
the River Plate dolphin. The estuary of this river is between
Argentina and Uruguay and it is the widest estuary in the world.
These dolphins are smaller than the Amazon dolphins. However,
their noses are longer.
Let’s go to the Mekong.
The Mekong river flows from Laos to Cambodia.
It is the tenth longest river on the planet and has one of the
richest biodiversities. This means the number of different
plants and animals living in one area. Very sadly, there are
only 50 Mekong dolphins alive. They are dying because of
pollution from goldmines and because politicians are not doing
anything to help.
Let’s go to the Indus River.
Special dolphins also live in the Indus
River, which is the longest river in Pakistan and the 21st
longest river in the world. Similar dolphins live in the Ganges,
which is the 39th longest river in the world. Both these
dolphins need help from politicians to save them from pollution.
Let’s go to China.
The Yangtze River is the third longest river
in the world but it is very polluted. All the beautiful Yangtze
River Dolphins are now dead. This is very sad for future
generations of Chinese people who will never see their Yangtze
dolphin.
Let’s go to Peru.
There is some better news. In the Amazon, the
Peruvian Forest Police help the pink dolphins. They stop
logging, that means cutting down trees, and they stop commercial
fishing. There are now more dolphins in Yarapa than 20 years
ago. It is very important for Brazil to do the same.
And let’s go to Thailand...
... to Songhkla Lake. Here the Thai Marine
and Coastal Resources Department protect the dolphins living in
the lake. Songkhkla Lake is the largest natural lake in
Thailand.
The politicians in Brazil, Cambodia, India,
Laos and Pakistan must do more to protect their beautiful
freshwater dolphins. |
