Where Do Pink Dolphins Live?

There are five different species of river dolphins found in the world. Pink dolphins are one of these species of river dolphins.  They inhabit specific river systems around the world where they are a famous tourist attraction for some. Unfortunately, these pink dolphins are facing problems with their habitats that could eventually lead to their extinction.

The pink dolphin is found in the Amazon River basin and in two other river tributary systems: the Orinoco and the Madeira in South America. This waterway system covers almost the entire central portion of the continent.

The Dolphins have been seen as far upriver as Peru and Bolivia. Some reports have indicated that the population of pink dolphins in upper reaches of the Madeira and Orinoco Rivers has increased in the last few decades. This may be due to the increased pollution and river traffic in the lower regions of the river systems.

The pink dolphins inhabit some of the river upstream from the mouth of the main rivers as well. As the rainy season comes, the rivers carry a great amount of leaves and other decaying flora towards the mouth, making the water very dark. This can make it difficult for the dolphins to find food.

Still asking, "where do pink dolphins live?" There is also a small population of pink dolphins in the Pearl River near Hong Kong. These dolphins may be a different species of dolphin than river dolphins found elsewhere, but no conclusive studies demonstrate one way or the other what the relationship in between these dolphins and other pink dolphins living in the Amazon Basin.The dolphins in the region of the mouth of the Pearl River in Hong Kong are white at birth but mature into a pink color. They became the official mascot of Hong Kong in 1997 during the handover of Hong Kong to Mainland China. There are a number of conservation societies concerned with the dolphin population in the Hong Kong/Pearl River basin. There are an estimated 1000 dolphins in this area. They have become a major tourist attraction and there are tour boats that operate in the area to watch them.

Dolphins in the Amazon

The Amazon River has at least two types of dolphins. One is the pink dolphin and the other is a grey dolphin. The interactions between the two are less frequent than is exhibited among ocean dolphins but as described, they do cooperate on mutual projects, such as feeding. 

The Amazon River pink dolphin has been entered on the endangered species list. River pollution is having a negative effect, and overfishing is resulting in a decreased food supply for the dolphins. They are suffering from the loss of their environment. As the rainforest is decimated and pushed back, there are strong indications that the effects on the dolphins will be detrimental.

The high levels of mercury in the Amazon are probably the greatest pollutant that are affecting the dolphins. The gold mining industry in Brazil uses mercury in their processes of extracting and cleaning gold. The excess or waste is then dumped in the river and raises the mercury levels. Many dolphin deaths have resulted in this contamination of the water.

About the Pink Dolphin

The pink dolphin has about 40 percent more brain capacity than humans. They are very smart and quite curious. They are not dangerous to divers and tend to be very playful. They are friendly and have been known to help injured swimmers and divers by pushing them to shore. They are considered the most intelligent of all river dolphins.

Pink dolphins are most prevalent at the confluence points of rivers due to the increased concentration of fish in these locations. They tend to work together in feeding by schooling fish and then banking them. The river dolphins appear to cooperate in the schooling of the fish, working together to obtain their food and then sharing.