Check out this guy's videos of riding with pods of dolphins off CA!

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You saw the pink dolphin in Oman. I kept thinking about the ones in the Amazon.

The videos of a pink-looking dolphin off Oman’s coast caught everyone’s attention. And honestly, I can understand why. You don't come across something like that every day.

But while reading about it, I found myself thinking about the Amazon river dolphin, also known as the boto.

These dolphins live in freshwater rivers and can grow up to 2.5 metres long. Their pink colour varies from one individual to another and is influenced by factors such as blood flow beneath the skin and scarring. They also use echolocation to navigate the murky waters they call home.

But there's more to them than their unusual colour. They interact, compete, choose mates and display complex behaviours. They aren't just fascinating creatures to look at. They have lives of their own.

And those lives are under threat.

Fishing, dams, pollution and deforestation are damaging their habitats. Mercury released by activities such as illegal gold mining can enter rivers, accumulate in fish and eventually harm dolphins that feed on them.

Something about this stays with me.

We can spend hours watching a video of an unusual animal, sharing it with friends and marvelling at how beautiful nature is. But how often do we think about what happens to these animals after the excitement fades?

I don't think there's anything wrong with being fascinated by a rare sighting. That curiosity can be the beginning of learning something new.

But perhaps it can also lead us to ask a bigger question: Can we truly appreciate the beauty of nature while remaining indifferent to what is happening to it? 🌿

Note: The species of the pink-looking dolphin spotted off Oman has not been confirmed. The Amazon river dolphin is mentioned here for comparison.

Sources: The Indian Express · Associated Press · India Today