Hunting and bycatch threaten Ecuador's Amazon river dolphins, study finds

River dolphins in Ecuador's Amazon region face severe threats from hunting and accidental capture, a decade-long study has revealed. The research, conducted between 2015 and 2025 by institutions including the National Institute of Biodiversity (Inabio), documented 50 mortality events primarily linked to the illegal trade of dolphin body parts and incidental entanglement in fishing gear.

The study highlights that over half of the recorded dolphin deaths were a result of hunting for teeth, fat, skulls, and other organs. These parts are sought after for use as amulets, purported aphrodisiacs, or in traditional medicine. Beyond direct hunting and bycatch, other significant threats identified include poor river tourism practices, water pollution, oil spills, mercury contamination from gold mining, the expansion of monoculture farming, increased river traffic, and the effects of climate change.

One particularly alarming finding was the first documented case in Ecuador of a river dolphin death linked to extreme drought in 2023, occurring within the Yasuní National Park. Researchers warn that the ongoing degradation of aquatic ecosystems and escalating climate change impacts could pose even more severe long-term risks than the currently observed direct threats.

Ecuador's Amazon region constitutes a small fraction of the overall Amazon basin. Due to these mounting human pressures and limited populations, both the Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) and the gray dolphin (Sotalia fluviatilis) are now classified as critically endangered within Ecuador. The study underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these vulnerable species.