Over 100 dolphins have been found dead in Lake Tefe in the Brazilian Amazon due to unusually high water temperatures and an ongoing drought, according to the Mamiraua Institute. The temperature in some areas of the lake has exceeded 39 degrees Celsius, which is highly unusual. This event is raising concerns among climate scientists about the impact of human activities and extreme weather on the region.
The Amazon, home to the world’s largest tropical rainforest, is facing a depleted water level, affecting both wildlife and human populations. Approximately 100,000 people are currently being affected by the drought, and the Brazilian government is working to provide assistance to those who rely on the river for transportation and essential resources. Experts are attempting to relocate surviving dolphins to areas of the river with cooler water temperatures.
However, environmentalists have raised concerns about the safety of transferring dolphins to other rivers without proper testing for toxins or viruses. Andre Coelho, a researcher at the Mamiraua Institute, emphasized the importance of verifying the presence of any harmful elements before releasing the animals into the wild.
The drought has also resulted in below-average water levels in 59 municipalities in Amazonas State.
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