Two Bolivian river dolphins were rescued on Friday in Bolivia after becoming stranded in shallow waters.
A mother and her baby ended up in a small part of a larger river following a flood. They ended up in a stream in the tourist town of Villa Tunari in Cochabamba. The animals could not return to their original river due to the low water levels.
Such incidents are not uncommon in Bolivia, and local rescue teams are well-prepared for these situations. Officials caught the pair in nets and transported them to the Isiboro River in the nearby Amazon region of Beni.
Bolivian river dolphin
The Bolivian river dolphin, also known as the Bolivian bufeo, lives in the Amazon basin of Bolivia.
They were initially considered a subspecies of the Amazon river dolphin, but due to genetic and physical differences, they were classified as a separate species in 2012. They are slightly smaller and have a grayish-pink body.
The dolphin faces threats from habitat loss due to climate change, dams, pollution, and getting caught in fishing gear. Bolivia declared the animals part of its natural heritage, a crucial step towards protecting this unique species.
