Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 3
C
ONSERVATION OF THE
R
IVER
D
OLPHIN
(
I
NIA BOLIVIENSIS
)
IN
B
OLIVIA
Enzo Aliaga-Rossel
Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Mayor de San Andres - Bolivia.
University of Hawaii at Manoa, EECB program.
A
BSTRACT
The pink river dolphin genus
Inia
, is widely distributed in the Orinoco and Amazon
basins. Locally called the bufeo (
Inia boliviensis
) in Bolivia, it is an endemic species to
the region, geographically isolated from
Inia
populations within the Amazon's main stem
by a series of rapids between Guayaramerin, Bolivia and Porto Velho, Brazil. In Bolivia,
they are distributed in three main sub-basins: Abuna, Mamore and Itenes (Guapore).
Despite bufeo being a native species and the only cetacean present in a land-locked
country, its ecology and conservation status are poorly understood. Unfortunately, no
conservation laws explicitly target this cetacean in Bolivia and consequently it only
receives relatively minor legal protection when it resides in protected conservation areas.
This chapter includes information on the studies that have been conducted in Bolivia; the
conservation status; aspects related to the geographic distribution of the species, its
behavior, ecology, population size, threats and possible means of protection. This
information will lead to recommendations for the implementation of priorities in research
programs and conservation for this species in Bolivia.
Key words:
Inia boliviensis
, bufeo, pink River dolphin, conservation, Bolivia
I
NTRODUCTION
The only cetacean species of the South American continent that lives exclusively in
freshwaters is the pink River Dolphin (genus
Inia
), locally called bufeo in Bolivia. The group
is listed as Data Deficient by The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN) (IUCN, 2009). Although the population is in better condition than other
freshwater dolphin taxa, such as the endangered South Asian River dolphins (
Platanista
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