A few of the endangered dolphin species include: Hector's dolphin, the Amazon River dolphin, the Indopacific Humpback dolphin, the Baiji, (also known as the Chinese White dolphin), the Dusky dolphin, Striped dolphin, and the Tucuxi (pronounced 'tookooshee').
Each of these species of dolphins has decreased in number by at least 40 percent over the last 3 years. The most threatened are the Indopacific Humpback dolphins, of which there are only a few hundred left in existence. Contributing factors such as pollution, habitat loss, over fishing, "bycatching", and illegal hunting all play a large roll in the decreasing numbers of dolphins in the wild.
Factories all over the world pour unwanted byproducts into nearby water supplies such as streams, lakes, rivers, etc. These waters carry the toxins with them as they combine with a larger water source, while along the way poisoning small fish, crabs, plants, and other sea animals. These small animals, now carrying the toxins in there blood system or on their bodies, travel on their "natural" routes for migration and reproduction. Somewhere along the way, these unknowing creatures spread the toxins to others during contact or when they are digested by larger animals, such as fish, sharks, whales, or dolphins.
All over the world, various species of dolphins have washed up on the beaches dead, or dying. Blood testing of these dolphins show levels of toxins exceeding the guidelines set by the WWF, (World Wildlife Foundation), and the OPA, (Oceanic Protection Association). This horrific situation is not happening somewhere else...it is happening here in the US as well. Since August of 1999, over 40 dead bottlenose dolphins have washed ashore near Panama City in Florida. The reason for these dead dolphins: toxins.
"Habitat" is the environment that a species needs to survive and thrive. Various things contribute to habitat such as food, air, water, and numerous other factors depending upon the species. When one product of a species habitat is threatened or depleted it could cause that species to suffer. This is especially true for sea life, and dolphins.
Humans have taken to "urbanizing" areas that normally are occupied by dolphins and other forms of sea life. Beachfront housing, bridges, beaches, and docks have all played a part in destroying the habitat that once belonged to the ocean life. When speedboats, water skiers, and personal watercraft take over parts of the ocean where dolphins would normally hunt for food, it upsets the cycles of hunting, sleeping, and reproduction. In addition, opening up these beaches on a year round basis for fishing, both individual and commercial, has both decreased the population of fish that are prey for dolphins, as well as increased the number of dolphins that die from starvation.
