Swimming with porpoises and sloth selfies put species at risk in the Amazon

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Symbol of the Amazon rainforest and unique animal of the region, the pink dolphin is “endangered”, according to the red list of the IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature).

With an eye on protecting the world’s largest freshwater dolphin, in an attempt to prevent it from disappearing into Brazilian waters, a long-term study was recently launched via a partnership between the NGO Sea Shepherd Brazil and INPA (National Institute for Research in the Amazon ).

Among the obstacles to the prosperous life of the species is one of the most popular activities among tourists visiting the Amazon region: swimming with the dolphin. Although it appears well in travel photographs, the practice is responsible for a large list of problems, including the increase in animal aggression and even physical injuries.

In addition to the exploitation of the animal as an attraction for tourism, there are also records of fishermen killing the botos to reduce competition for fish, and their use as bait in illegal piracatinga fishing. The main predator of the species, it seems, is precisely man.

“Porpoises are not found anywhere else, which makes them vulnerable, since if they become extinct here, they disappear from the planet. They belong to the rivers of the Amazon and Orinoco basins, which are distributed throughout Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia , Peru, Ecuador and Guyana”, explains Giselle Reis, Education Coordinator of the NGO Sea Shepherd Brazil.

“There are only five species of freshwater dolphins in the world, and all are threatened”, he adds.

In relation to the tourist practice of swimming, it is possible to define as the first mistake to attract the animal with food.

The boto, environmentalists teach, doesn’t go near the tourist because he wants to make friends — he comes to catch the fish given by the guide.

And the search for easy food can generate stress, change the natural habits of the place and even hurt the animal, if it is grabbed to pose for a selfie, for example.

“Feeding animals can affect the entire food chain. When conditioning, it stops hunting. And, when it comes to a predator, such as the porpoise, which feeds on weak and sick fish, the whole health of the species populations and the balance of the ecosystem is affected”, explains Nathalie Gil, CEO of Sea Shepherd Brazil.

According to João Almeida, wildlife manager at the NGO World Animal Protection Brazil, control over the given food is also not frequent. Therefore, it may not be good for consumption, frozen or even spoiled.

“Tourists enter [na água] with groups of ten people. The facilitator attracts the animal with the fish so that the boto comes out. At this point, more excited tourists can go to the boto, to get the best selfie. Animals end up being pushed and hugged, for that”, describes Almeida.

“It’s worse when the facilitator helps. We have a report that shows porpoises with scars from being grabbed by the fin, which serves as support. From so much holding, it causes injuries to the animal, which has sensitive skin”, says the specialist.

Almeida says that swimming with porpoises in the Amazon is considered a “semi-captivity” tour, as it conditions the animals to habits that are not theirs. “We work so that the agencies stop offering this tour and start promoting only the observation tour, without any contact with the animal.”

According to Amazonastur (State Tourism Company of Amazonas), swimming with a dolphin is allowed and regulated by Cemaam (State Council for the Environment of Amazonas). “There has to be a minimum distance of 50 km between the sites that explore the activity, in addition to at least three days of rest per week for the animals. They can only have activities on two consecutive days, once a week”, he says the president of Amazonastur, Sérgio Litaiff Filho.

The number of tourists must be limited, with permission for eight groups of up to ten people per day, together with a trained facilitator. In terms of feeding, according to Amazonastur, it is still allowed to give 1 kg of fish per day to each porpoise, with the food being fresh or cooled.

sloths and slave monkeys

Environmentalists believe that taking selfies with a wild animal at any cost is not just irresponsible, but also alienation, given that behind the scenes in that photo is often the cruelty of captivity.

Another classic case is that of the sloth. Upon coming across the animal, slow, similar to a stuffed animal, and with its “smile” on its face, the tourist cannot resist the photo.

But behind each specimen of the species is often a hunting history — many are forcibly removed, as babies, from their families.

As the sloth mother is extremely protective and aggressive, she is usually killed to capture the baby, as a study on animals in captivity in the Amazon carried out by the NGO Animal Protection Mundial Brasil reveals.

The survey also found situations of abuse. “We found sloths that lived inside Styrofoam boxes, only removed for photos when tourists arrived. But of course they don’t tell people that. An animal like that, which lives up to 30 years free in the wild, dies within six months of captivity”, reveals João Almeida.

The animal’s “smile”, explains the protector, is a morphological issue, not a sign of happiness. “Managing to take pictures is something that stresses him a lot, although he doesn’t show it.”

The sloth’s diet is very specific. “If done uncontrolled, it dies quickly from malnutrition.”

Primates are also exploited in tourism. The sweet-smelling monkey, for example, is used as a photo accessory while posing on the shoulders of tourists.

For that to happen, Almeida explains that the animal is kept in captivity or constantly attracted with food. “The larger and more aggressive spider monkey, on the other hand, is chained to trees, to compose the landscape, while tourists photograph.”

Even when animals are seen loose, alone or in a flock, the problem is installed. “They are intensively fed. They are there because of the food and can even get aggressive if they don’t receive it. And that’s not counting the junk food that is offered, such as snacks and more processed foods.”

According to Sérgio Litaiff Filho, from Amazonastur, the organization is campaigning for tourists not to feed, take pictures or touch wild animals.

“The handling of wild animals is illegal, according to the Environmental Crimes Law. The regulation provides for penalties ranging from three months to one year for those who practice acts against wild animals, domestic or domestic, native or exotic.”

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