Amazonas — “I’ve lived on this floating home for 40 years and this is the worst drought I’ve ever seen You can see that the water dropped well below the 2023 levels,” says Carlos Magno as he shows the point reached by the water last year And it gets even scarier because of the news that this is going to get worse every year.” Magno is a boat mechanic and lives on a floating house on the water in the municipality of the same name located in the heart of Amazonas state While he and his family love living by the lake they are now considering moving to dry land because of increasingly severe droughts “The floating house is already completely on land Take a look here to see how much the water level has dropped This drought is almost 30 days longer; it usually doesn’t get to this point,” he says The water needs to rise so Magno can get back to work a lagoon formation of the Tefé River near the point where it meets the Solimões has been experiencing a historic drought this year reaching just 4.5 meters (14.9 feet) — 13.5 m (44 ft) below its June level when it was 18 m (59 ft) deep (see graph below) the remaining water recorded extremely high temperatures reaching 40.3º Celsius (104.5° Fahrenheit) according to data from the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development (IDSM) Throughout the Amazon, 69% of municipalities have been recording drought rates that are even more intense than those of 2023 — a 56% increase over the same period last year, according to the Integrated Drought Index (IIS). In Amazonas, the state government’s 2024 Drought Bulletin indicates that another 850,000 people were impacted by lower water levels and all 62 municipalities are in a state of emergency According to the Geological Survey of Brazil the situation could become worse by December we have observed extreme hydrological events intensifying with record floods and droughts year after year,” says Ayan Fleischmann a senior researcher at the Mamirauá Institute’s Research Group on Geosciences and Environmental Dynamics in the Amazon Monitoring is also carried out by a platform developed by the World Wildlife Fund Brazil (WWF-Brazil) and MapBiomas which monitors 23 of the more than 60 lakes in the Amazon Basin It revealed that the waters of lakes connected to rivers have also reached higher temperatures since August 12 of these lakes already have seen temperatures above those recorded in 2023 The data also show that these lakes have had average temperatures above those of the previous year for 5-9 months which points to physiological stress experienced by living beings repeatedly exposed to high temperatures and low water levels 209 carcasses of pink river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) and grey river dolphins locally known as tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis) were collected according to researchers from the Mamirauá Institute an unprecedented mortality event for these species most of the deaths were related to the overheating of the waters According to estimates made by the Mamirauá Institute Lake Tefé is home to approximately 900 pink dolphins and 500 tucuxis With an annual replacement rate of only 5% the loss of more than 200 animals in 2023 represented a significant impact on these populations About 80% of the animals killed that year were pink dolphins Both species of Amazonian freshwater dolphins are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species The pink dolphin and the tucuxi are considered “endangered,” meaning the species will likely become extinct in the near future This is the second most serious level of threat on the IUCN list the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) and the Mamirauá Institute decided to anticipate the tragedy “The drought was so intense last year that the river never recovered its level The expectation was that the tragedy would repeat itself,” says Miriam Marmontel leader of the Mamirauá Institute’s Amazonian Aquatic Mammals Research Group team training and acquisition of specific equipment.” ICMBio established the Tefé Dolphin Emergency in 2023 with technical support from the Mamirauá Institute and in partnership with several institutions The agency also launched the 2024 Aquatic Fauna Emergency in September in order to strengthen monitoring of animals in the area and prevent new deaths More than 50 professionals were in charge of monitoring water conditions and animal behavior twice a day the dolphin mortality rate was not as expected helped collect and transport carcasses that often ended up in his backyard who has worked with dolphins for more than 20 years and has collaborated with the National Institute for Amazonian Research and the Mamirauá Institute says he believes the animals anticipated an even more severe drought and moved to safer places “The animals know more than we do; after all and they didn’t have time to leave the lake they made sure to leave it earlier,” he explains what prevented the 2023 tragedy from being repeated was the lower incidence of solar radiation there were fewer consecutive days of intense sunlight as well as more rainfall and clouds which prevented the lake from remaining at 40ºC for long periods “The water temperature in Lake Tefé varies a lot It can go from 27ºC [81°F] in the morning to 40ºC in the afternoon in a single day This affects all beings in the aquatic environment but does not result in extreme overheating of its waters,” Fleischmann says no deaths of dolphins related to thermal stress were recorded all with signs of contact with human activities such as fishing The carcasses of these animals are being examined to determine the exact causes of death But drought is still the element behind the deaths of these animals aquatic mammals become more vulnerable and are exposed to adverse human activities such as fishing Sea Shepherd monitors the local fauna in the area of Coari Although some animals were already in an advanced stage of decomposition “We found the animals with marks of fishing nets and stab wounds,” Sea Shepherd executive director Nathalie Gil says the team observed signs of illegal hunting from a distance “Manatees are the target of excessive hunting with 15-20 animals caught every day,” Gil says The Amazonian manatee is one of the 1,182 Brazilian species threatened with extinction They are listed as “vulnerable” on the Official List of Endangered Species of Brazilian Fauna Although dolphins are not directly targeted by hunting they are engaged in a battle with the local fishers According to fisherman Edinei de Lima Ferreira pink dolphins are “lazy.” They wait for the gillnet to fill with fish so they can rip it open and eat “We work so hard to mend the net and put it in the river and then that animal comes and rips everything walking around the city of Tefé or sailing along the rivers it is possible to see that the tension between dolphins and fishers is serious who has years of experience with the species says it is rare to find someone in the area who likes dolphins There is also fear of the legends that say the dolphins may cause harm.” pinks dolphins are known for their mystical ability to seduce the animal emerges from the rivers as an attractive man capable of conquering a young woman and impregnating her before returning to the waters It is now known that the legend of the pink dolphin is strongly linked to cases of sexual violence in the area which were killed for fear of their supposed powers of seduction There are also reports that dolphin parts were worn as amulets and that the animal’s fat was used for medicinal purposes While the legend is no longer the main reason for hunting retaliatory capture still occurs in some places In the struggle between fishers and dolphins over fishing resources the resentment of the former has been drawing researchers’ attention sound devices are being developed that keep dolphins away from fishing nets preventing both the destruction of gillnets and retaliation against the animals together with the Society for Environmental Research and Protection began testing this technology in June 2023 at the Prainha I community there was a 40% reduction in damage to gillnets and a threefold increase in the amount of fish caught effectiveness decreased in the second phase of testing when the dolphins began to adapt to the noise and find new ways of approaching a researcher at the Aquatic Mammals Center were originally designed for the marine environment and that their adaptation for use in rivers requires significant adjustments Getting people to adopt the technology is another challenge who fear that their catches will decrease with the use of these devices and adapting these technologies in an accessible way is still difficult.” Banner image: A pink river dolphin is found dead in an Amazon river This story was first published in Portuguese here on Nov The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] the Brazilian Amazon is infinitely important to biodiversity conservation and to the communities who live there and are sustained by its bounty Working to protect as much as possible of this irreplaceable tropical biome before it is lost is a top priority for Rainforest Trust traveled to the heart of the Brazilian Amazon to visit communities deeply involved in conservation efforts in the region where Rainforest Trust has supported our partner Instituto Internacional de Educação do Brasil (IIEB) to safeguard 1,280,981 acres of primary rainforest within the buffer area of the 2.5-million-acre Tefé National Forest Protected Area adjacent to Lake Tefé a well-developed town with a commercial airport they traveled over 60 miles by boat to visit four communities living in the Tefé rainforest “Our recent trip to Tefé left a lasting impression,” Andrea reports “James Lewis and I had the privilege of meeting with the eight Community Council leaders and I was deeply moved by the remarkable work they are doing to safeguard the Amazon forest while navigating the complex process of land tenure regularization “It’s always great to hear from individuals,” James said “So often we’re involved in high-level discussions about policy Actually being able to meet in person and connect the people themselves and their personalities and experiences with the conservation that we’re helping achieve And I know it is meaningful for our donors to hear from local people as well.” The Lake Tefé project is an excellent example of how Rainforest Trust supports partners working towards formal government recognition of the land tenure rights of Indigenous and traditional communities—a status that also grants them the power to manage and protect their lands as communities in the Amazon are facing unprecedented challenges and threats to their survival James and Andrea heard from those they visited about the devastation caused by the extended drought of 2023 that hit the Amazon and nearly dried up Lake Tefé—a lake that measures 50 to 65 feet deep in its deepest spots No one in the villages they visited had living memory of the lake ever drying up before “One of the most striking sights was the Tefé Lake which was at its fullest during our visit,” said Andrea “It was hard to imagine that just months earlier this massive body of water had nearly dried up causing immense destruction and despair for both nature and the people who depend on it but the memory of that crisis still lingers.” (Left) A replenished Lake Tefé; (Right) Lake Tefé during the drought in fall 2023 The famine that followed the drought reverberated across the Amazon the traditional fishing livelihoods of the people were lost for the season Their only means of transportation—the rivers—became unnavigable with dramatically lower fish stocks this year due to the devastating losses last year the dry season has started earlier than ever fueling dire predictions of another drought for a region already reeling from major changes to the global climate This is a trend that is being amplified across the entire Amazon basin each year as the effects of climate change are growing the ongoing destruction and degradation of the rainforest from logging cattle ranching and other development marches forward Though the rainforests here have been inhabited for generations by traditional communities of fishermen Brazilian nut gatherers and rubber tappers their lives and livelihoods are increasingly threatened by criminal activities due to the lack of clear land ownership rights Lake Tefé communities are also impacted by unregulated tourism spreading from its shores given the region’s astounding beauty To address the urgency of Amazon conservation Rainforest Trust created the Brazilian Amazon Fund in 2023 to raise $40 million to permanently safeguard 20 million acres of intact forest—an expanse the size of South Carolina—as new protected areas and Indigenous territories These projects will also safely lock up 6 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalents (more than the U.S.’s annual total CO2 emissions) Our collaborative project in the Amazon rainforest near Lake Tefé is one of the first projects of six to benefit so far from our donors’ generosity to this fund Donate to Save the Brazilian Amazon James and Andrea pose for a photo by Lake Tefé in the Brazilian Amazon An old-growth tree from the Lake Tefé area of the Brazilian Amazon Children from a local community near Lake Tefé Quilombola community members carrying water walking through what usually is the bottom of Lake Tefé Members of APAFE pushing a boat recently purchased with Rainforest Trust project funds They travel along a stream left behind when Lake Tefé nearly disappeared during the drought Andrea and James spoke with a number of community members and their insights are essential to understanding day-to-day life in the forests around Lake Tefé Marineide is a leader from the Tauari community The Tauari community is one of those seeking legal designation of their territories Marineide is one of four community members working to establish ecotourism in the area the program is already generating income for the community through sales of high-quality cassava and fish to visitors and to local markets in the Amazon The plan is to build huts to safely house visitors for overnight stays “We want to improve our way of living without leaving our communities or the forest,” Marineide said “My message to young people who wish to stay in the area is it’s also for those who will come after us Click to watch the full interview with Marineide an elderly community leader who is about 70 years old is standing next to a Brazil-nut Tree that is well over 700 years old He moved to this village near Tefé when he was nine years old and has lived here since One had to walk hours to reach a neighbor’s house He is deeply connected to the natural environment around Lake Tefé you’re preserving life,” Celion said with feeling If one day I come here and see this tree fallen from when I was nine years old to the age I am today [Note: The tree has a large crack up its trunk.] It is the ‘mother of all trees’ because it is the oldest in the region and the mother to all the other Brazil-nut Trees around.” Click to watch the full interview with Celion Juscelino Elisabete is a science teacher in the schools and is pursuing her Master’s Degree at State University of Amazonas She lives in the Quilombola community of São Francisco do Bauana Quilombolas are remote Afro-Brazilian communities founded by people who escaped slavery; the earliest date back to the 1600s Her community is currently fighting for its land rights “It’s a great joy to be able to leave my community to get an education and come back to contribute to my home,” Elisabete said “I feel privileged to have been blessed with this grace Our well-being depends on the health of our forests.” Moving from Lake Tefé in the Amazon to the city for school joining together to help someone when they are sick But she also remembers when the Amazon was opened up to industrial fishing during her parents’ generation when ocean fishing fleets came up the Amazon and to Lake Tefé and just cleaned out the fish She saw the degradation caused by industrial operations Her generation wants to make sure that doesn’t happen again Click to watch the full interview with Elisabete The history of the Amazon is a long one where outside interests descend and take what they want with no regard for Indigenous communities or lasting biodiversity “It was encouraging to see that the communities are organizing and preparing for another potential drought,” Andrea said they are determined not to be caught off guard again Their resilience and foresight give hope for the future but also make us reflect on the impacts of climate change The unsustainable use of natural resources by humans disproportionately affects those living closest to nature who often have the smallest carbon footprint But we have the unprecedented opportunity to change the trajectory of destruction and degradation in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest Trust and our partners and donors are developing new projects in the region as quickly as possible with Andrea leading our project development efforts there Now is the time to support this critical work through Rainforest Trust’s Brazilian Amazon Fund “These visits gave me a lot of hope that the communities will be able to build resilience to ensure the long-term protection of their territories,” James said Join Our Fight to Save the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest Trust covers its fundraising, and general and administrative costs through a combination of investment earnings and unrestricted contributions from our closest supporters. As a result, unless you direct us otherwise, 100% of your donation is allocated to conservation projects. the dry season has more than a month to go and water levels will continue to decline the researcher said.And it is not just the rare dolphin species that are suffering Riverine communities across the Amazon are stranded by the lack of transport on waters too shallow for boats and their floating houses are now on solid ground.Even houses built on stilts over water are now high and dry a distance from the river shore.Lake Tefe resident Francisco Alvaro Santos said it was the first time ever that his floating house was out of the water."Water is everything to us the means of transportation for everyone who live here Without water we are nobody!" Santos said.Reporting by Leonardo Benassatto in Tefe; Writing by Anthony Boadle in Brasilia; Editing by Lisa Shumaker Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Scientists are trying to establish whether global heating caused the deaths of the rare river dolphins last year, before temperatures start to rise again It's here and it's here with much more force than we expected," Batista added.The Solimoes in Tabatinga was measured at 4.25 meters below average for the first half of September.At Tefé the river was 2.92 meters below the average level for the same two weeks last year and is expected to drop further to its lowest-ever.In Manaus where the Solimoes joins the Rio Negro to form the Amazon River proper the level of the Rio Negro is approaching the record low reached in October last year."Last year we were in this situation by October," said Indigenous leader Kambeba the drought has gotten worse."(This story has been corrected to say Tuesday in paragraph 3)Reporting by Leonardo Benassatto and Jorge Silva in the Amazon; Writing by Anthony Boadle in Brasilia; Editing by Jacqueline Wong Severe drought and soaring temperatures are causing lakes and rivers in the Amazon to reach dangerously high temperatures, threatening species like the Amazon river dolphin, according to a recent study’s preprint In 2023, the Amazon experienced its worst drought in recorded history, coupled with the hottest dry season on record The extreme climate caused the surface area of Brazil’s Tefé Lake to shrink by approximately 75% with vast sections of the lake reduced to less than 1 meter (3.3 feet) in depth As air temperatures peaked at 39.1° Celsius (102° Fahrenheit) the little water that remained in the lake quickly overheated The average surface water temperature for tropical lakes is around 30°C (86°F) the researchers found that the entire water column leaving no refuge for animals seeking cooler temperatures The study focused on Tefé Lake because of the mortality event observed the same year when more than 200 endangered Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) and tucuxi dolphins (Sotalia fluviatilis) perished The researchers say the deaths were likely caused by the extreme water temperatures that year The scientists caution that with ongoing climate change temperatures that exceed heat tolerances for aquatic species will become more common Five out of the 10 lakes examined in the study had exceptionally high daytime temperatures long-term warming trend in Amazonian waters Satellite data show that the region’s lakes have warmed by an average of 0.6°C (1.08°F) per decade over the past 30 years This decadal temperature rise “is a notable increase compared to global averages for lake warming,” Iestyn Woolway an independent research fellow with Bangor University “This data is critical as it provides a regional perspective that has often been overlooked in broader climate studies.” Woolway was not involved in the study Woolway added that the models used to simulate the conditions on Tefé Lake are robust but on-site data collection would be more precise a limitation the study’s authors also acknowledge in the paper “Overall this study focuses on a specific event in a particular region more research across different tropical freshwater systems is needed to understand their broader implications,” Woolway said The study has been submitted for peer review and preliminary data were presented at the annual meeting of the Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science Banner image: A researcher examines a dolphin that likely died from extreme heat in Tefé Lake Image courtesy of Miguel Monteiro/Mamirauá Institute See related coverage of heat and drought in the Amazon Acre’s communities face drinking water shortage amid Amazon drought Amazon drought cuts river traffic, leaves communities without water and supplies Drought forces Amazon Indigenous communities to drink mercury-tainted water Working to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and nature WWF® and ©1986 Panda Symbol are owned by WWF You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience. Brazil – 16 October 2023 – At least 140 endangered dolphins have died and hundreds are still trapped as Lake Tefé in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil suffers from historic drought and high-water temperatures Marine mammal stranding experts from IFAW arrived in Tefé on Sunday at the request of the Mamiraua Institute for Sustainable Development (Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá). This trip is made possible in part by a generous contribution from the Dutch Postcode Lottery (Nationale Postcode Loterij) “We commend the teams on the ground in Brazil for all they have been doing to understand and prevent further suffering of these animals,” said Dr we are not without hope that we can help identify solutions that will result in a positive outcome for the surviving dolphin population.” the hope is to give these animals the best chance of survival Sharp and animal rescue responder and biologist Kira Kasper to work with local agencies and bring the kind of fresh thinking and solutions the team is known for Amazon and Tucuxi river dolphins are already endangered and the impacts of climate change likely be worsening their fate “With the dry season expected to peak in the next two weeks the worst might be yet to come,” said Kasper these animals will continue to be stressed and in need of aid We are coming prepared with the supplies to hopefully face any challenge we may encounter on the ground.” The IFAW team will spend at least two weeks in Tefé They will assess the situation and rescue options for up to 400 Amazon river dolphins and Tucuxi dolphins that are trapped in shallow The two IFAW experts will work with local rescuers to better assess the situation The team will bring with them specialised equipment including stretchers The IFAW team is committed to helping as many dolphins as possible as every individual animal matters to the survival of the population IFAW is a global leader in rescuing marine mammals with its Marine Mammal Rescue & Research team celebrating its 25th anniversary this November US—an area that sees the most frequent live strandings of dolphins than anywhere else in the world It’s with this 25-year history of research and hands-on experience that IFAW has been called upon for consultation and training in over 16 countries the Dutch Postcode Lottery awarded a grant of €1.5 million Euro to support a new IFAW marine conservation and rescue project The project seeks to optimise post-release survival rates of stranded cetaceans through enhanced global rescue and release activities while reducing human-caused threats to ensure marine mammals are released back into safer and more secure habitats For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact: Stacey Hedman Communications Director +1 508 737 2558 shedman@ifaw.org  Related contentread moreBlog Every problem has a solution, every solution needs support. 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Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker A severe drought has thrown the Brazilian Amazon into an emergency with water levels in rivers and lakes across the basin falling to unprecedented lows in September This has restricted the movement of people and goods by boat making it even more difficult for remote communities to access health and education facilities and left thousands of people facing water and food shortages This scenario could worsen dramatically by the end of October when the drought is expected to be at its most severe The Amazon typically receives less rainfall during this current time of year But the 2023 dry spell has been exacerbated by two simultaneous natural events that inhibit cloud formation further reducing the already low rainfall in the region the abnormal warming of the surface waters of the equatorial Pacific Ocean which produces east-to-west air currents over the Amazon Rainforest Another factor is the warming of the waters of the northern tropical Atlantic Ocean which creates north-to-south winds across the biome These air currents are an obstacle to the formation of rain clouds “With the two phenomena acting simultaneously we have a more intense drought that also affects a larger area of the Amazon biome,” Renato Cruz Senna a meteorologist and researcher at the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA) in Brazil The critical level of the Amazon’s rivers is a major problem River navigation is the primary transportation method across the world’s biggest rainforest and the only means of access for many communities especially in the western part of the biome The flow of boats on the great rivers — the Amazon Purus and Juruá — supplies the entire region with essential goods sent from other parts of Brazil from food items like beans and beef to materials like cement and iron The same routes are used to transport commodities from televisions and bicycles produced in the Manaus Free Trade Zone Authorities say 90% of regular vessels are now operating with some kind of restriction in the state of Amazonas which has ordered cargo capacity to be halved 1,120 kilometers (700 miles) from the Amazonas state capital Manaus It sits at the confluence of the Solimões and the Javari the river that forms the border between Brazil and Peru Water levels here have receded so much that huge sandbanks have emerged in the middle of the rivers even to the neighboring municipality of Tabatinga with the risk of total shortages if the river continues to recede,” David Bemerguy “It’s the worst drought ever seen here because the river has more sandbanks In addition to the shortage of drinking water the municipality of 37,000 inhabitants faces a growing public health problem “We have worsening respiratory diseases and other health problems associated with the drought We depend on a river connection to help patients The current situation is unthinkable,” Bemerguy said On Sept. 26, the Brazilian federal government released $41 million reais ($8,2 million) to dredge 8 km (5 mi) of the Solimões and reestablish the link between Benjamin Constant and Tabatinga Benjamin Constant is just one of 60 municipalities across Amazonas, out of the total of 62 in the state, that are currently suffering from the effects of the drought. Manaus In Porto Velho, the capital of Rondônia state, the Madeira River hit its lowest level in September. With their wells running dry, people living along the river are traveling up to 30 km (19 mi) to buy freshwater, according to news outlet G1 At least 15,000 people are suffering from water shortages on the banks of the Madeira Amid the severe drought, more than 100 Amazonian dolphins, including endangered species like the pink river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) and the tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis), were found dead in Lake Tefé “I’ve never seen anything like this,” Miriam Marmontel an Amazonian aquatic mammal researcher at the Mamirauá Institute “It’s a huge die-off of dolphins in a localized area due to high temperatures We’re worried because these are two endangered species charismatic animals that are symbols of the Brazilian Amazon.” Many other lakes and rivers in the Brazilian Amazon have already recorded large numbers of dead fish due to the drought The dry season in the Brazilian Amazon began earlier than expected and has been more severe than in previous years Weather forecasts indicate the drought conditions will likely last longer in 2023 “We will have low-intensity rains from October onward due to El Niño,” Sidney Abreu from the Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) “This rainfall deficit should last until the second half of December river levels in the Amazon will likely take longer to return to normal prolonging navigation problems in the region Mongabay received a forecast of flows for the next three months from Ana Paula Cunha a drought researcher at the National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters (CEMADEN) The data show flows well below average throughout the region New restrictions on navigation are expected in the coming weeks president of the Brazilian Association of Cabotage Shipowners (ABAC) which represents companies that transport cargo along the rivers in the Amazon Basin “With depth restrictions to avoid hitting sandbars ships are carrying less cargo than they could That makes freight more expensive,” he told Mongabay by phone “Everything suggests that we will have to reduce cargo even more as the rivers recede which means fewer products with higher prices in the region The greatest impact will be felt in the supermarket,” he said According to Senna, the INPA researcher, river levels in the Amazon may reach record-low levels in late October “The level of the Rio Negro is dropping by 1 meter [3 feet] every three days something that has never been recorded before,” he told Mongabay He said communities living in the Amazonian region have become used to intensive flooding but aren’t as resilient to the effects of severe droughts “It’s a very chaotic process for the region When rivers and lakes can’t be navigated the population suffers all kinds of restrictions The drought that is predicted for the region in 2023 is unprecedented.” Banner image: The mass die-off of Amazon dolphins is under investigation with researchers suspecting high water temperatures may be the cause El Niño hurts carbon storage in South America’s tropical forests, study says FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the author of this post Pete is fol­low­ing the mighty Ama­zon river in the most ambi­tious and inti­mate way pos­si­ble: walk­ing some­times swim­ming every inch of the Ama­zon from sea to source and in the process inter­act­ing with its peo­ple and its wildlife face to face at ground level It would have been much quicker walking along the exposed banks of the Solimões (Amazon) river, but the risk of encountering river pirates was very high – so for this latest section, Coari to Tefé and cut our own path through the longer and tougher inland jungle route paying the guides and getting them back home with all the logistical nightmares to overcome Even if the toughest part physically and mentally is the walking it is always a relief to actually get started each time on a new leg it is difficult to condense a month’s eventful jungle traverse into a single blog post and I had very welcome boat support from the local community especially when a group of river dolphins decided to join us and swam alongside all the way across the largest – 7 kilometre – section of the lake Erland swam more than half the leg with me while Jhonatan filmed from the support canoe and looked after the backpacks The luxury of having a whole team on the job we were advised to avoid entering/passing certain communities near to the Solimões if only because I had planned to resupply at these points We had an unplanned 6 kilometre armed escort out of one of the communities for our own safety after buying food supplies Our escort was courteously arranged free of charge by the local indigenous reserve manager once again I have to add that all the people we had contact with were unbelievably hospitable We were even given an empty house to sleep in “If a tree falls in the rainforest and nobody’s there to hear it Well without getting into philosophy or the science of sound-waves perception and observation …..I can confirm that if you do happen to be in the vicinity a falling tree in the middle of the rainforest makes a sound that’s pretty damned loud when all the animals and insects go quiet for at least 7 seconds the animals are always there to hear it!) We were all awakened one night when a large tree fell very close to our camp during a storm with one of the branches crashing through the fly sheet that protects the fire from rain Falling trees and branches (branches some the size of a bus) are one of the dangers of jungle walking that is quite unpredictable so the best we can do is keep our fingers crossed while walking and avoid making camp near old or leaning trees with overhanging dead branches young healthy trees also fall victim to a sudden intense gust of wind during tropical downpours and we have clambered over and under clusters of freshly fallen but it seems there is the possibility of another member of the family walking with me on the next leg to Fonte Boa We did have to put in some long,tough 9-hour walking days as the guides were determined to get home for Natal (Christmas) to be with their respective families and the 230 kilometre crossing took 27 days in all – but it was an inspiring experience and we slept with full bellies every night The rising water levels and the beginning of the rainy season will make the going much tougher But with more and more first-hand experience under my belt/backpack I find my understanding of the terrain – it’s topography Perhaps I’m finally beginning to really understand the lay of the land https://www.ascentoftheamazon.com/2017/12/the-lay-of-the-land/ and ascentoftheamazon.com https://explorersweb.com/Amazon—Pete-Casey-on-the-move-again-2017-11-07-68666 https://explorersweb.com/Amazon—Come-hell-or-high-water-2017-04-25-71262 https://explorersweb.com/Ascent-of-the-Amazon—Atlantic-to-Manaus—almost-DONE-2016-11-20-55977 https://explorersweb.com/Amazon—Mission-Impossible—Pete-Casey-2017-01-25-42881 https://explorersweb.com/Amazon-connecting-quotmissing-dots-on-the-trailquot-by-Pete-Casey-2016-12-17-67416 https://www.ascentoftheamazon.com/2016/12/moses-parting-waters/ https://explorersweb.com/Pete-Casey-debrief-Light-at-the-end-of-the-jungle-2017-02-25-41598 Sign up to receive ExplorersWeb content direct to your inbox once a week Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed A fisherman stands on his boat as he navigates near thousands of dead fish awash on the banks of Piranha Lake due to a severe drought in the state of Amazonas SAO PAULO — More than 100 dolphins have died in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest in the past week as the region grapples with a severe drought and many more could die soon if water temperatures remain high a research group of Brazil's Ministry of Science said two more dead dolphins were found Monday in the region around Tefe Lake which is key for mammals and fish in the area Video provided by the institute showed vultures picking at the dolphin carcasses beached on the lakeside Experts believe high water temperatures are the most likely cause of the deaths in the lakes in the region Temperatures since last week have exceeded 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Tefe Lake region The Brazilian government's Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation said last week it had sent teams of veterinarians and aquatic mammal experts to investigate the deaths There had been some 1,400 river dolphins in Tefe Lake "In one week we have already lost around 120 animals between the two of them which could represent 5% to 10% of the population," said Marmontel Workers have recovered carcasses of dolphins since last week in a region where dry rivers have impacted impoverished riverside communities and stuck their boats in the sand Wilson Lima on Friday declared a state of emergency due to the drought said his government was unable to deliver food directly to some isolated communities because the rivers are dry the Geospatial coordinator at the Mamirauá Institute said the drought has had a major impact on the riverside communities in the Amazon region which is their main means of transportation," he said Fleischmann said water temperatures rose from 32 C (89 F) on Friday to almost 38 C (100 F) on Sunday He said they are still determining the cause of the dolphin deaths but that the high temperature remains the main candidate Become an NPR sponsor Worst Drought On Record Lowers Amazon Rivers To All-time Lows Ancient Amazon River Rock Carvings Exposed By Drought Amazon Rainforest Port Records Lowest Water Level in 121 Years Mass Death of Amazon River Dolphins Linked To Severe Drought, Heat Children Who Survived Five Weeks in Colombian Jungle Recovering Well Earthquake Hits Remote Northern Peru, 75 Homes Destroyed Agriculture Minister Sees National Rice Production Reaching 1 Million Tons in April People's Business Credit Realization Exceeds Rp76 Trillion Indonesia's First Batch of 2025 Hajj Pilgrims Departs for the Holy Land Indonesian Govt Targets Completion of Patimban Port Construction in Q4 of 2025 Four Classrooms at Cimanuk 2 Public Junior High School Severely Damaged Twelve Inactive Railroad Lines in Bandung to Be Reactivated The History and Purpose of World Dance Day Earth Hour Jakarta 2025 Semarang Hindus Celebrate Sacred Galungan Day worried experts said.Environmental activists have blamed the unusual conditions on climate change which makes droughts and heat waves more likely and severe Global warming's role in the current Amazon drought is unclear with other factors such as El Nino at play."We have documented 120 carcasses in the last week," said Miriam Marmontel a researcher at the Mamiraua environmental institute that focuses on the mid-Solimoes river basin.Roughly eight of every 10 carcasses are pink dolphins which could represent 10% of their estimated population in Lake Tefé she said.The boto and the gray river dolphin called the "tucuxi" are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list of threatened species"Ten percent is a very high percentage of loss and the possibility that it will increase could threaten the survival of the species in Lake Tefé," Marmontel said.Brazil's Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation has rushed veterinarians and aquatic mammal experts to rescue dolphins that are still alive in the lake They cannot be moved to cooler river waters until researchers rule out a bacteriological cause of the deaths.Reporting by Bruno Kelly; Writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Brad Haynes we can't find the page that you are looking for Don't let that stop you from visiting some of our other great related content protected by reCAPTCHA.css-trhdh3::after{background-color:#fa9000;}EXPLORE MOREblinking-dotLive updatesLive updates, ‘Blackmail tool’: Hamas rejects Israeli plan to bypass Gaza aid agenciesUN and humanitarian aid groups say Israel proposed ‘dangerous’ ration ‘scheme’ after nine-week siege Francis-era reforms that saw a diverse group of cardinals join the mix make his successor nearly impossible to call The attack comes as Moscow prepares to welcome foreign leaders from China and Brazil Reports say Israel now eyeing occupation of entire enclave control of aid and possible expulsion of Palestinians the California federal penitentiary has been shut for more than six decades A study gives clues to cosmic origin of gold and heavy elements and they were created earlier than we thought Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe says the ‘ongoing’ discussions are ‘still in the early stages’ US president makes claim after Mexican leader says her country’s sovereignty ‘not for sale.’ Attack claimed by Houthis temporarily halts air traffic at Israel’s busiest airport and triggers air raid sirens either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Before-and-after photos published over the weekend reveal the severity of a drought plaguing the Amazon that has depleted several lakes and rivers but the impacts have been exacerbated by climate change—resulting in low water levels that have devastating impacts The drought has stranded some of the Amazon's river communities leaving people without access to desperately needed supplies with several marine species dying from its impacts a researcher shared four satellite photos that showed the steep decline in water levels at Lake Tefé "40 days of the extreme drought in Lake Tefé, Central Amazon," Ayan Fleischmann posted on X, formerly Twitter Fleischmann is a researcher at the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development 40 days of the extreme drought in Lake Tefé, Central AmazonSource: Planet satellite imagery pic.twitter.com/gRSBrjzr5l Newsweek reached out to Fleischmann by email for comment Lake Tefé can be seen full of blue water The water level has fallen substantially over a 40-day period and the last photo shows a nearly dry lakebed The low water levels are causing fatal impacts, as 153 river dolphins—or 10 percent of the lake's population—died over a week after Lake Tefé's water temperatures soared to 102.38 Fahrenheit during the last week of September. The dolphins were found dead by the dozens with 130 pink dolphins and 23 tucuxi dolphins affected the lake's water temperature is around 89.6 degrees F but the intense drought has spiked temperatures Hundreds of fish were also killed in the Rio Negro due to low water levels and high temperatures The fish were contaminating the water source and also signaled that more ominous impacts would take place if the drought continued Brazil has dedicated a task force to some of the most affected communities in which the task force will bring fresh water The task force will also dredge the river to encourage water flow to allow for the transportation of supplies as the levels continue to fall El Niño is known to bring higher-than-average precipitation to the southern portion of the United States warmer than normal conditions going through their spring and into their summer," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Jason Nicholls previously told Newsweek Nicholls added that relief is not likely for the region until March or April when cooler weather arrives in the area and when El Niño starts to weaken To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here. Newsletters in your inbox See all Please press and hold the button until it turns completely green If you believe this is an error, please contact our support team 147.45.197.102 : ed3c1c88-0fd8-4219-80c8-66524fe1 More than 100 dolphins have died in a Brazilian Amazon lake because of drought and water temperatures up to 39˚C (102˚F) Dolphin bodies have been emerging from Lake Tefé for the last few weeks, researchers from the Brazilian Ministry of Science-funded Mamirauá Institute told CNN While wet and dry seasons are a normal part of the Amazon River’s ecology the extreme drought soaring water temperatures are unusual The Guardian reported that thousands of dead fish have also risen to the surface of Lake Tefé in recent days “The past month in Tefé has seemed like a science-fiction climate-change scenario,” British researcher Daniel Tregidgo told the paper “Regular sightings of pink river dolphins are one of the great privileges of living in the heart of the Amazon Pretty much every time I go to the market to have breakfast I see them come to the surface and it reminds me why I live here knowing that this drought has killed over 100 Lake Tefé and the surrounding watershed is experiencing lethally warm water temperatures The two primary factors behind the lethally warm water are the shallow river depth and unseasonably warm air The water level in some parts of the river is almost half the depth that it should be at this time of year The pink river dolphin, known locally as a boto, is one of six remaining freshwater dolphin species worldwide. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature classifies the cetaceans as endangered Brazillian officials and volunteers are currently trying to relocate distressed dolphins to the main river channel where water temperatures are cooler but the work is delicate and time-consuming “Transferring river dolphins to other rivers is not that safe because it’s important to verify if toxins or viruses are present [before releasing the animals into the wild],” Mamiraua Institute researcher Andre Coelho told CNN Jess Thomson is a Newsweek Science Reporter based in London UK space news and the impacts of climate change extensively Jess joined Newsweek in May 2022 and previously worked at Springer Nature She is a graduate of the University of Oxford You can get in touch with Jess by emailing j.thomson@newsweek.com Some 153 dolphins have died in a single week in a Brazilian lake 10 percent of the lake's entire dolphin population The Lake Tefé dead were made up of 130 pink dolphins and 23 tucuxi dolphins both of which have declining populations and are listed as "endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species "What is happening at Lake Tefé is appalling The impact of the loss of these animals is enormous and affects the entire local ecosystem" Pink river dolphins, also known as Amazon river dolphins, are the largest species of river dolphin These dolphins gain their characteristic pink color from repeated abrasion of the skin during aggressive interactions with others of their species "Scientists are working now to try to understand the problem specifically however we know in mammals that high temperatures stress out the animals' physiology by bringing them out of what's called their 'thermal neutral zone' This is the set point of the body where metabolism has to rise to keep the animals' body temperature constant," Jason Bruck an assistant professor of biology at Stephen F "At some point these animals are just not adapted to swim in 102 F waters." The water in Lake Tefé was tested by local environmental consultancy Aqua Viridi who found a large amount of algae Euglena sanguinea This algae makes a toxin that often kills fish necropsies on the dolphins did not reveal that the algae or its toxins caused their death meaning that the driver of the mass death is likely the abnormally warm water temperatures "The river dolphins were in shallow waters that with sunlight and little or no rainfall made water temperatures become very hot," Patricia Charvet a professor of aquatic biology at the Universidade Federal do Ceará in Brazil "By being aquatic mammals, water helps keep their body temperatures within their physiological tolerance levels. Most aquatic fauna from the Amazon Region tolerates higher water temperatures when compared there are limits in terms of water temperature they can endure "Sometimes strandings in closed lakes can do this (water levels go down and the connection with the main river channel is lost leading to shallow lakes with overheated waters)." The extreme drought in the region has also led to dramatic declines in water levels which is devastating for communities that use the waterways as major routes of transport: the city of Manaus the capital of the state of Amazonas at the junction of the Amazon and Negro rivers reached its lowest water levels in 121 years on Tuesday "The Amazon Region is facing one of its worst droughts in history due to an extremely strong El Niño phenomenon," Charvet said weather experts started alerting that waters from the Pacific Ocean were becoming abnormally hot (much warmer than expected) and warned that they were probably looking at one of the strongest El Niño events ever recorded the El Niño is causing extreme droughts in the mid to west Amazon Region (mainly Manaus and westwards)." Conservation efforts at Lake Tefé are attempting to prevent further dolphin casualties from the heat physically blocking off of the hottest regions of lake and moving the remaining dolphin to deeper "We formed a huge coalition to help collect carcasses monitor live animals in critical areas of low depth and high temperatures collect and send biological and water samples for analysis An entire effort to get to the root causes of this unprecedented event," Frias said we found that they suffer from various pressures mercury contamination and the impact of hydroelectric plants But these events in Tefé show that more research needs to be carried out on how they will be affected by constant climate change." the dolphins will remain at risk of similar events like this happening again "In the long run the deaths of these river dolphins is associated with climate change the changes we are causing throughout the world will likely impact more specific environments/ecosystems altering rainfall and hydrologic water balance deforestation is also contributing to temperature increases (land air and water) in the Amazon Region but the overall scenario is an extreme drought caused by little or no rainfall associated with the El Niño phenomenon," Charvet said "Perhaps it's time for some faster changes regarding climate change prevention to avoid other deaths." Do you have an animal or nature story to share with Newsweek The page you are looking for cannot be found You may have followed a broken or outdated link Gostaria de receber as principais notícias do Brasil e do mundo O jornal Folha de S.Paulo (1921 - 2025) é publicado pela Empresa Folha da Manhã S.A Note: Those listed as arrested are presumed innocent until convicted in a Court of Law 2018 at His Home 6519 Bordeaux Park by Officer Chase Owens and Charged with; Bray at the Colleyville Justice Center and Charged with: Listed Occupation as a Temp at LMS Temp Agency and Home 7512 Jamie Renee Lane Young on Colleyville Blvd and Charged with; Garcia in The Colony at 5151 Colony North and Charged With; LNO Policy Note: Considering the long period taken to clear most cases through the court system LNO does not have the ability to track the eventual outcome of every arrest LNO often is requested to remove data based on alleged clearance of charges at a later date LNO therefore is expanding and restating our policy on removing information by request at a later date from the archives dating back to 2000 If you or someone you know has been reported arrested in this weekly column and subsequently been cleared of the charges inform LNO with verifiable information CLEARED OF CHARGES MEANS THE CHARGES WERE DISMISSED OR YOU WERE FOUND NOT GUILTY..SEND A COPY OF THIS INFORMATION VIA EMAIL LNO will provide equal coverage to same or removal of information at requester’s choice for example “obstruction of a roadway” in lieu of a DWI/DUI is not considered “cleared of charges On the other hand a deferred adjudication is deferred with the charges dismissed upon successful completion however to note such on the record (with a copy of the proper document) LNO will bring forward and update the information if requested by the convicted party If interested party makes claims of dismissal but public records indicate no dismissal; LNO may update information and bring forward other public record information have been discovered lifeless in a tributary of the Amazon River in Brazil These unique dolphins are already considered threatened species and are listed on the IUCN Red List Experts believe that the severe drought and scorching temperatures in the Tefe Lake region are the likely causes of this tragic event The water temperatures in the area exceeded 39°C (102°F) in recent days creating a hostile environment for these delicate creatures thousands of fish have also died due to these harsh conditions Miriam Marmontel, a researcher at the Mamiraua Institute, while talking to Al Jazeera noting that nearly 80% of the discovered carcasses are pink dolphins locally known as "boto." This significant loss poses a threat to their population in Lake Tefe Scientists are currently investigating the cause of this surge in dolphin mortality including the possibility of bacterial infections a distressing pattern emerged as a significant number of carcasses appeared when Lake Tefe's water temperature reached an unprecedented 39°C more than 10 degrees above the usual average for this season water temperatures again rose to 37°C (99°F) recently Brazil's Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation has promptly taken action deploying veterinarians and experts to rescue any surviving dolphins in the area While the exact cause is still under examination environmental activists have pointed to climate change as a contributing factor making droughts and heatwaves more severe and frequent the 16-year-old Junior High School (JHS) graduate who got admitted to Adisadel College has year after he shared his challenge in securing placement in a senior high school with Citi News is not taking his dance passion for granted at all After dazzling people with his dance moves during one of the school’s entertainment sessions Elvis has been spotted thrilling people in during another programme at Adisco Elvis was recently captured dancing vigorously and having a good time at the just ended ITMOC school tour which made its first stop at Adisadel College https://twitter.com/Adisadel13/status/1222896086773186565?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1222896086773186565&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fghanaweekend.com%2F2020%2F01%2F31%2Fvideos-adiscos-elvis-tefe-steals-show-during-kobby-salms-itmoc-school-tour%2F The show was headlined by urban gospel star Kobby Salm Not only was Elvis spotted noticeably because of his height but because of how creative he finds himself in whatever space Elvis Tefe errh, the whole Adisco he no get size…play up play up pic.twitter.com/ezbPquD0QA — Adisadel (@adisco_2009) January 26, 2020 After graduating from the Budumburam DA Basic School Tefe gained admission to Adisadel College to study Visual Arts following Citi News’ reports about his plight CitiNewsroom.com is Ghana's leading news website that delivers high quality innovative alternative news that challenges the status quo © 2024 All Rights Reserved Citi Newsroom. it will take people with a good sense of responsibility to do what is right and what is expected of them Rev Ganyo who was speaking at the 2021 Presbytery Representatives Conference of the Tema Presbytery of Global Evangelical Church at Tema said the Global Evangelical Church is focused at discipling its members and citizens to take up responsible positions to move the country forward He explained that when people are discipled they become responsible for tasks and responsibilities that have been assigned them "We want our members to be responsible such that when you assign them with duties you have confidence that it will be executed perfectly even in your absence," he said The Presbytery Chairman mentioned that the church must participate actively in the nation-building process and one of such ways was to develop and raise godly citizens He urges members of the church to avail themselves to discipleship and take up responsible positions in building the country Rev Ganyo revealed that though the year 2020 will go down in history as an eventful year with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic the Church remains resolute in ensuring that members are steadfast as they observe the safety protocols He mentioned that the Church is doing all it can to bring congregations together as the peak time of the COVID-19 put many members apart Reverend Ganyo said it is the Church’s aim to disciple many to take responsible positions in the growth of the nation The Presbytery Conference is aimed at taking stock of the previous year and chart a new course for members and the Church in the ensuing year “Faithful Stewardship” marks the beginning of a four-year term for the new executives Our newsletter gives you access to a curated selection of the most important stories daily Connect With Us : 0242202447 | 0551484843 | 0266361755 | 059 199 7513 |