Global River Dolphin Veterinary Network
Connecting river dolphin professionals across range countries to strengthen veterinary care, emergency response, training, protocol development, and scientific knowledge exchange.
Connecting the people protecting river dolphins
The Global River Dolphin Veterinary Network brings together veterinarians, scientists, and responders across South America and Asia to protect the world’s most endangered freshwater dolphins, sharing expertise, coordinating emergency response, and sharing capacity where it’s needed most. When animals strand, become entrapped, or face sudden health crises, that connection can make all the difference.
Did You Know?
Freshwater dolphins are among the most threatened aquatic mammals in the world. All river dolphin species are considered endangered or critically endangered.
Professional Resource Hub
Resources for veterinarians, scientists, responders, and conservation partners.
This hub is your starting point for field resources, scientific updates, training opportunities, consultation pathways, and ways to connect with the network. Some materials will be publicly available, while others may be shared by request to support appropriate veterinary oversight, local permissions, and regional context.
PROTOCOLS
Access Protocols and Field Guidance
Field-ready guidance for river dolphin rescue, handling, health assessment, sample collection, rehabilitation, necropsy, and care.
SCIENCE
Explore Publications and Scientific Updates
Selected publications, technical reports, case studies, and updates on river dolphin health and disease surveillance.
Training
View Training and Workshops
Learning opportunities focused on river dolphin medicine, diagnostics, emergency response, and health assessment.
Consultation
Request Emergency Support or Case Consultation
For active or emerging river dolphin stranding, entrapment, translocation, mortality event, or urgent health concerns.
Network
Join the River Dolphin Veterinary Network
Connect with veterinarians, scientists, responders, and partner organizations advancing river dolphin health and emergency response.
Collaborate
Share a Resource or Collaboration Opportunity
Share relevant publications, protocols, training opportunities, case updates, or ongoing collaboration needs with the network.
River dolphin health is connected to the rivers, communities, and ecosystems around them.
River dolphins live in some of the world’s most important freshwater systems, where the health of animals, people, and ecosystems are closely connected. Yet many river dolphin populations are declining, and emergencies often occur in remote regions where access to specialized veterinary care can be limited.
Local conservation teams are already doing extraordinary work under difficult conditions. The Global River Dolphin Veterinary Network is designed to strengthen that work by connecting professionals, expanding training, sharing expertise, ensuring veterinary support is available where needed, and supporting emergency response capacity before the next crisis occurs.
This effort is rooted in a simple goal: to help ensure that endangered river dolphins have access to skilled, timely, and welfare-based care when they need it most.
© Eric Franks, NMMF
A Critical Need for Preparedness
In 2023, the urgency of this work became especially clear during an unusual mortality event (UME) in the Brazilian Amazon. Unprecedentedly high water temperatures, hazardous air quality associated with widespread wildfires, and harmful algal blooms, driven by extreme drought conditions, contributed to the deaths of more than 300 endangered Amazon river dolphins and tucuxis.
Events like this highlight a critical need. When animals strand, become entrapped, or face sudden health crises, responders need practical tools, trusted protocols, and access to experienced veterinary support.
Supporting river dolphin conservation across South America and Asia.
The network is designed to provide specialized veterinary support to professionals working with river dolphins across their range, with priorities shaped by local expertise, conservation need, and partner-led opportunities. This may include the following species:
South America
Asia
A collaborative effort supported by Operation GRACE.
The National Marine Mammal Foundation is leading the development of the Global River Dolphin Veterinary Network through Operation GRACE: Global Rescue of At-Risk Cetaceans and Ecosystems.
Operation GRACE is NMMF’s global conservation medicine initiative, protecting at-risk, threatened, and endangered aquatic mammals around the world through veterinary and health science. A sick river dolphin is rarely an isolated case. It can be an early signal of a contaminated waterway, a collapsing fishery, or a changing climate, and catching it early can protect an entire population and the community that depends on the same water.
Strengthened by regional leadership, local expertise, and international collaboration.
© Omacha Foundation
The Global River Dolphin Veterinary Network is built on collaboration. River dolphin conservation depends on the leadership, knowledge, and commitment of local and regional experts, as well as the support of international partners who can help strengthen training, response capacity, and scientific exchange.
NMMF is grateful to the organizations and professionals who have contributed to this growing effort.
Current and emerging collaborations include regional conservation initiatives, veterinary professionals, scientific institutions, response teams, and international partners working across river dolphin range countries.
Connect with the Global River Dolphin Veterinary Network.
The network is growing. As new resources, trainings, and collaborations become available, this page will continue to evolve.
Professionals working with river dolphins are invited to connect with the network, request resources, share updates, or inquire about training and collaboration opportunities.
Professional Inquiry Form
Your support makes this work possible.
You don’t have to be a veterinarian or scientist to make a difference for river dolphins. Your support helps fund the training, equipment, and emergency response this network depends on.
