Check out this BBC article featuring Amazonian pink dolphins and the latest photos by researchers. Underwater photos taken by wildlife photographer Thomas Peschak in the Rio Negro captured a rarely documented behavior: Amazon pink river dolphins stealing fish from fishermen’s nets.
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The dolphins deliberately poke holes in nets and grab trapped fish (such as catfish), showing high agility and intelligence underwater.
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They have learned to associate fishing boats and nets with easy food, which is why local fishermen call them the Amazon’s “great thieves.”
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The species, known locally as boto or bufeo, is the largest freshwater dolphin, reaching about 2.5 m long and 200 kg, and uses echolocation to navigate murky rivers.
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Their reputation for stealing fish has created conflict with fishermen, who sometimes injure or kill them in retaliation.
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At the same time, the dolphins face many threats—fishing nets, pollution, hunting, and climate-related droughts—and all Amazon river dolphin species are now endangered.
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The article also notes their strong presence in Amazon folklore, where they are sometimes believed to be magical shapeshifters that can turn into humans.
✅ Key idea:
The photos reveal how intelligent and adaptable Amazon pink dolphins are—stealing fish directly from fishing gear—but the same behavior is also fueling human–wildlife conflict and highlighting the fragile state of the Amazon’s river ecosystems.
Check it out: BBC Article with awesome photos!