Reading time: 5 minutes
Traveling through the Amazon is immersing yourself in the beauty of the exuberant life of the forest, the landscapes, the unique flavors of its cuisine and contact with floating communities.
In addition to all this, it is the opportunity to meet one of the great symbols of the Brazilian Amazon: the pink dolphin.
The kinship of porpoises
Did you know that the pink dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) is a cetacean mammal that can be found in the waters of the Amazon, Solimões and Araguaia rivers and that it belongs to the Innidaeparente family, the same as whales and dolphins?
It is the largest animal in the family to live in rivers: males can measure more than 2 meters and weigh around 200 kg. Its pink color is a hallmark of adult animals, especially males. The puppies have a grayish color.
Porpoises are extremely intelligent
Generally, the Boto lives alone or in small groups (of up to four animals).
In addition to their pink color, one of the main characteristics of pink dolphins is their intelligence. Their brain capacity is 40% greater than that of humans.
They feed on a variety of fish, molluscs, crustaceans, turtles and crabs. As the waters of the Amazon River are normally turbid, dolphins have found an effective way to hunt for food: making different sounds to recognize objects and animals.
Dolphin communication
Recently, Brazilian scientists discovered that they communicate in a complex way, being able to emit more than 230 different sounds, each with a meaning – complete proof of their privileged intelligence.
To understand the language of porpoises, scientists carried out detailed research with animals that live free in the wild, identifying and monitoring each one with underwater microphones.
Then they related the sound emitted to the context in which the dolphins were found.
The legend of the conquering boto
The pink dolphin prefers to live alone, normally looking for company only during the breeding season.
To attract the females’ attention, they are capable of jumping completely out of the water, twirling and swinging sticks in their beaks.
This characteristic of being a true “conqueror” gave rise to the famous legend of the dolphin in the Amazon region, which is known to the local population to this day.
Attracting single women
According to popular belief, the dolphin, especially on festive nights and full moons, comes out of the water and transforms into a beautiful and elegant young man, who wears a white suit and a hat, to hide the respirator, which is essential for survival. of the animal.
This figure from the legend is usually portrayed as being a good dancer (referring to the twirls of real dolphins) and having a cigarette in his mouth – alluding to the branches that dolphins use to attract attention during mating season.
Thus, the button of legend attracts young single women and takes them to the bottom of the river. There, he impregnates the girls.
Where to see the pink dolphin in the Amazon?
Because it is so important in local culture, it is almost mandatory to see these animals up close when your travel destination is the Amazon.
The pink dolphin can be seen on one of the boat trips to Praia da Orla de Novo Airão, in Recanto dos Botos. There, these animals live freely.
During the visit, tourists can learn more about the life and habits of this mammal, as well as diving in the region.
In addition to Brazil, the pink dolphin can be found in countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Venezuela. Currently, there are around 13 thousand porpoises in these regions.
The dolphin in the Anavilhanas archipelago
The Anavilhanas National Park, a privileged place to meet the pink dolphin, is also where you can enjoy many other attractions, including the exuberant fauna and flora of the Amazon.
There, it is possible to go on water and land tours and trails, climb trees, take scenic flights and various nautical activities, such as canoeing, Stand Up Paddle (SUP) and wakeboarding, among others.
But even those who prefer a calmer trip without so much adventure will have plenty to do there: observing the exuberant nature, local fauna and flora is already an unforgettable experience, as the diversity is magnificent.
During the dry season, the white sands emerge and contrast strongly with the black color of the water, creating a unique landscape.
Discover the Amazon
Whatever your preferred type of travel, the Amazon is a destination worth visiting.
Not only for the pink dolphin, but also for the unique biodiversity, this region is surprising even for the most traveled tourist.
Contemplate nature in authentic and sophisticated experiences, VIAJE AMBIENTAL TOURISM! Contact us and find out about our personalized service on 11 3818-4600 (Whatsapp and telephone).
Or go to: https://ambiental.tur.br/
Ambiental has been carrying out, since 1987, trips aimed at sustainable interaction with nature, in addition to cultural immersion experiences. We always have highly specialized guides and we design itineraries for you to make the most of the time you are traveling. Do not travel without consulting us first.
