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Toxic Mercury Poisoning Threatens Extinction of Amazon's Pink Dolphins
9 Oct, 2025
Summary
- Pink river dolphins in the Amazon have mercury levels 20-30 times the safe limit
- Illegal gold mining operations are the primary source of this mercury pollution
- Populations of pink and gray river dolphins have declined by 52% and 34% in recent decades
As of October 2025, the Amazon's iconic pink river dolphins are facing a grave threat from toxic mercury poisoning. According to the latest findings from the Colombian conservation group Omacha Foundation, these endangered mammals have been accumulating dangerously high levels of mercury in their bodies, with some individuals testing as high as 42 milligrams per kilogram—over 40 times the safe limit of 1 milligram per kilogram.
