Amazon River Dolphin
(Inia geoffrensis)
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
CURRENT THREATS
CURRENT STATUS
SPECIES OVERVIEW
The Amazon river dolphin, locally known as the boto, is a distinctive freshwater species found throughout the rivers and floodplains of the Amazon Basin. Known for its striking pink coloration and elongated, prehistoric-looking snout, the boto stands apart from all other dolphins. Highly adapted to life in flooded forests and winding river systems, this remarkable animal plays an important role in the Amazon’s aquatic ecosystem. Despite its uniqueness and cultural significance, the boto now faces serious and growing threats that place its long-term survival at risk.
SPECIES RANGE
The Amazon river dolphin, or boto, is found exclusively in the freshwater river systems of the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America. Its range spans multiple countries, including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, where it inhabits rivers, tributaries, lakes, and seasonally flooded forests. Highly adapted to dynamic freshwater environments, the boto moves with seasonal water levels, expanding its range during flood seasons and retreating to main river channels as waters recede.
THE PROBLEMS
The Amazon river dolphin faces a growing combination of human-driven threats that are pushing the species toward extinction. One of the most severe pressures is entanglement in fishing gear, where dolphins are accidentally caught in nets or deliberately killed after damaging fishing equipment. In some regions, botos are also targeted for use as bait in illegal fisheries. Habitat loss and degradation pose another major challenge, as dam construction, deforestation, and river modification disrupt natural water flow, fragment populations, and reduce access to critical feeding and breeding areas. Pollution from mercury used in gold mining, agricultural runoff, and plastic waste further contaminates the rivers the dolphins depend on, affecting both dolphin health and the fish they rely on for food.
Shifting rainfall patterns and increasingly extreme floods and droughts are intensifying these threats by isolating dolphins in shrinking waterways or trapping them in shallow, disconnected habitats. Increased boat traffic and underwater noise interfere with communication and navigation, while declining fish populations strain an already limited food supply. Together, these overlapping pressures threaten not only the survival of the Amazon river dolphin but the health of the entire freshwater ecosystem it inhabits.
WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WHY
Through Operation GRACE, the National Marine Mammal Foundation works with regional partners in Colombia and Brazil to assess and protect Amazon River dolphins while building long-term local capacity rooted in science and conservation medicine.
In Colombia, NMMF partners with Fundación Omacha, Colombian scientists, and veterinarians, with support from Dolphin Quest, to conduct health assessments that examine how environmental change, including water quality and mercury contamination, impacts dolphin health. Colombian team members received hands-on training in dolphin health assessment and ultrasound techniques, enabling local experts to lead ongoing monitoring while collaborating with NMMF scientists to interpret data and guide conservation strategies.
In Brazil, NMMF works alongside the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Institute, Brazilian biologists, veterinarians, and local fishers to monitor Amazon River dolphin populations and establish baseline health data. When an extreme drought and heatwave caused a large-scale mortality event in Lake Tefé, Operation GRACE experts responded rapidly, supporting mortality investigations and helping develop emergency response protocols. These protocols now serve as a foundation for coordinated action and improved preparedness across river dolphin range countries.
Together, these collaborations strengthen regional expertise, improve emergency response, and ensure that conservation efforts for Amazon River dolphins are guided by local leadership, informed by science, and focused on the long-term protection of freshwater ecosystems.
Acoustic Monitoring
Researchers have long used underwater recorders to detect vaquita clicks. Building on that foundation, we began developing smart acoustic buoys that can identify vaquitas in real time, relay data instantly, and alert teams to nearby vessels – creating faster, more effective protection for this critically endangered species.
Drone-Based Health Assessments
We initiated development of SEAHAWC, an AI-enabled drone designed to identify individual vaquitas, assess health, and monitor for illegal fishing activity, all without disturbing the animals. Training local community members in its operation will ensure lasting, locally led protection for vaquitas.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Your support helps protect the Amazon river dolphin and other vulnerable species through Operation GRACE and the National Marine Mammal Foundation’s science-driven research, veterinary expertise, and conservation action. Donations directly support health assessments, rescue and response efforts, and collaborative fieldwork with local experts to better understand threats, improve survivability, and protect the river ecosystems these dolphins depend on.
