Save Dolphin Boto!

 DOLPHIN BOTO!

Habitat

These freshwater dolphins are found in slow-moving rivers and streams. During the wet season when waters rise and flood nearby forests, botos will also leave the deeper channels and are agile enough to swim through the trees

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Description

The boto is probably the best known of the five river dolphins. It has an extremely distinctive shape with a long, plump body, paddle-shaped fins and a ridge along the back rather than a dorsal fin. The head consists of a bulging forehead (known as the  melon , small eyes, chubby cheeks and an extremely long beack, which may hold up to 140 teeth . Probably the most striking feature of the Boto, however, it's its colour, which varies from bluish grey to white, and even pink. Botos have extremely flexible necks, as some of the vertebrae are unfused; they are able to move their head in most directions . Local people have often regarded the Boto with suspicion and there are a number of myths surrounding the species, such as one in which dolphins turn into handsome men in order to seduce young girls

  

STATUS

Classified as Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List , and listed on Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS or Bonn Convention)

Threats

 Although the most widespread of the river dolphins, Botos are threatened by the continued development of the river systems in which they are found. Hydroelectric or irrigation schemes that dam rivers act to isolate dolphins in smaller sections of their habitat. These dolphins were previously associated with bad spirits which has perhaps protected them from persecution . However, they are now coming into increased conflict with local fisherman who may view the species as competition . Dolphins are also caught or injured accidentally during the fishing process; either as bycatch in nets or through collisions with boats and motors