Amazonas faces drought as water scarcity and dolphin protection efforts intensify

The state of Amazonas is facing significant hydrological challenges due to drought. According to the Amazonas Government, the municipality of São Paulo de Olivença is currently in a state of emergency, while 14 other municipalities are under alert and 10 others are under attention.

To mitigate the impact, the Civil Defense has distributed 152 water purifier kits and 92 water tanks to various communities to improve access to potable water. Additionally, 33,000 food baskets, totaling 759 tons of humanitarian aid, have been sent to affected families.

In response to environmental risks, the Mamirauá Institute is coordinating the ‘Lagos Sentinelas da Amazônia’ project. This initiative involves over 200 community members and 52 communities working with researchers to monitor river and lake conditions. The project uses sensors, weather stations, and satellite imagery to track water temperature, levels, and quality.

This monitoring is critical for protecting river dolphins, following a 2023 drought that resulted in the deaths of 330 pink and tucuxi dolphins in the region. Researchers are currently tracking the movement and behavior of several dolphins using satellite transmitters to better understand their response to environmental changes.