Impact+on+Pink+Dolphins

=Impact on Pink Dolphins= Phoebe / Dawson / Omer

=**Problem**= The impact on Pink Dolphins in Hong Kong

=**Question / Concept**= Why are the pink dolphins endangered =**Inquiry Intos**=

=Research=

Dolphins are widely known as ocean inhabitants, however very few people realize that there are several species of fresh water dolphins living in some of the largest rivers in the world. There are five species of dolphins that live in rivers, being the most popular of them the Pink Dolphin or Boto that lives in the Amazon River. The Pink dolphins from the Amazon River are also known as Inia Geoffrensis, their scientific name. >
 * **The pink dolphins name is also called** [|**Boto**] **or a river pink dolphin because it lives in rivers.**
 * ===A pink dolphin's meal includes small river fish, crabs, small turtles and catfish.===
 * **A pink dolphin can swim around 35 km.**
 * ======**They have become endangered because the increase of population in the basins of these two rivers, causing a raise in the pollution and the accidental killing or hunting (killing them for there own liking).**======
 * **Pink Dolphins are a species of four river dolphins.**
 * **Pink Dolphins have a capacity of brain power 40% larger than humans, which shows their distinguishing features with how they live.**
 * =====In the Amazon...**there are myths about this dolphin and it's powers. The Boto, in these legends, is said to turn from man to dolphin, known as an encantado, or shape shifter. From this myth were dolphins that would find young women that were on the shore and impregnate them. It is said that this is the way that it is because of the similarities between certain body parts of the Boto and humans. From this, other superstitions have continued to arise in the area about the nature and the power of the Pink Dolphin.**=====
 * **Despite myths and legends in the Amazon, the Pink Dolphin is now known to be one of the smartest animals, specifically in the area of aquatic life**.
 * **The Pink Dolphin is one that is known specifically because of where it dwells. This species is found in the __ Amazon River __ and the Orinoco River in South America.**
 * **Dolphins in rivers like the Pink Dolphin have special adaptations to survive in their habitat, so they are not the same as the dolphins we usually know from the ocean.**
 * In fact, pink dolphins are distantly related to sea dolphins as they belong to different families. Dolphins who live in oceans belong to the family Delphnidae, while river dolphins are part of the family Platanistoidea.**
 * Among all the river dolphins, the Amazon River Pink Dolphins are the most intelligent of them, as they have a brain capacity 40% larger than humans.**
 * While Pink Dolphins are known to inhabit the Amazon River, they can also be found in some other rivers in South America, like the Orinoco River and the Madeira River.**
 * Pink dolphins are probably the last of the river dolphins as the other four species are very close to extinction. In fact, also pink dolphins have been listed by the International Union for Conservation of the Nature as endangered species.**
 * The contamination levels of the Amazon River as well as the destruction of their habitat, has put pink dolphins in risk of extinction.**
 * **Regardless their name, Pink dolphins can also be found in light gray or brown colors.**
 * In fact, scientists have no evidence of the reason why pink dolphins are pink. It could be product of evolution to help them adapt to river life or by the presence of capillaries near the surface of the skin what provide them such color.**
 * However, observation has shown that pink dolphins change their color when they are excited or surprised, very much like blushing in humans.**
 * Amazon River dolphins are between six and eight feet long when adults, and weigh up to 355 pounds when they are fully grown.**
 * Pink dolphins are smaller than sea dolphins but they have longer snouts, another adaptation provided by evolution, which is used by them to hunt at the bottom of the river.**
 * Evolution has removed dorsal fins from Pink dolphins providing they with humpbacks instead.**
 * Evolution has removed dorsal fins from Pink dolphins providing they with humpbacks instead.**

=Action Ideas= =Writing a petition to the government Doing a survey to see what people know about Pink Dolphins Distributing flyers to raise awareness We might be able to get in the News paper to aware the local Encourage people (the locals) to go on the Pink Dolphin watch in Hong Kong and also encourage people to help them= =**Bibliography**=
 * =**http://www.hkdolphinwatch.com/ - that is a website that talks about how could we help to save the pink dolphins.**=
 * ====**http://www.dolphins-world.com/why_are_pink_river_dolphins_endangered.html - this website gives a breath descreption of why the [|pink dolphins] are endangered.**====
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