Endangered pink river dolphins face a rising mercury threat in the Amazon
STEVEN GRATTAN
Associated Press
Scientists in Colombia’s Amazon are capturing and testing endangered pink river dolphins to monitor mercury contamination from illegal gold mining and deforestation.
PUERTO NARINO, Colombia — A flash of pink breaks the muddy surface of the Amazon River as scientists and veterinarians patiently work a mesh net around a pod of river dolphins.
Endangered pink river dolphins face a rising mercury threat in the Amazon
Fishers help scientists and veterinarians capture pink river dolphins Sept. 7, 2025, in the Amazon River for health checks in Puerto Narino, Colombia.
Fernando Vergara, Associated Press
Scientists and veterinarians capture a pink river dolphin Sept. 7, 2025, in the Amazon River to perform health checks in Puerto Narino, Colombia.
Fernando Vergara, Associated Press
Scientists and veterinarians capture a pink river dolphin Sept. 7, 2025, in the Amazon River for health checks in Puerto Narino, Colombia.
Fernando Vergara, Associated Press
Scientists and veterinarians carry a pink river dolphin captured in the Amazon River for health checks Sept. 7, 2025, in Puerto Narino, Colombia.
Fernando Vergara, Associated Press
Scientists and veterinarians examine a pink river dolphin Sept. 7, 2025, in Puerto Narino, Colombia.
Fernando Vergara, Associated Press
Scientists and veterinarians examine the dolphin Sept. 7, 2025, in Puerto Narino, Colombia.
Fernando Vergara, Associated Press
Scientists and veterinarians examine the dolphin Sept. 7, 2025, in Puerto Narino, Colombia.
Fernando Vergara, Associated Press
Veterinarian Maria Jimena Valderrama implants a microchip into a pink river dolphin Sept. 7, 2025, after a health check in Puerto Narino, Colombia.
Fernando Vergara, Associated Press
Scientists and veterinarians weigh the pink river dolphin Sept. 7, 2025, after checking its health in Puerto Narino, Colombia.
Fernando Vergara, Associated Press
Scientists and veterinarians free a pink river dolphin Sept. 7, 2025, after checking its health in Puerto Narino, Colombia.
Fernando Vergara, Associated Press
Scientists examine blood samples Sept. 7, 2025, drawn from pink river dolphins in the Amazon River to determine mercury levels in Puerto Narino, Colombia.
