Zoomarine reaffirms its commitment to the protection of the Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei), a species of coastal dolphin critically endangered in Brazilian territory, through the work developed in the Alliance for the Franciscana Dolphin Conservation Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation (AFCR3), an organization created by Yaqu Pacha – a non-profit association that studies and protects marine mammals – and the Nuremberg Zoo, dedicated to the research, rescue and rehabilitation of this species in danger of extinction.
As an active member of AFCR3, Zoomarine explains in a statement that it has “worked on implementing concrete actions aimed at preserving this small dolphin from coastal waters and, recently, was directly involved in logistical and scientific support for a training initiative carried out in Brazil , which brought together 24 participants from several Brazilian institutions to develop essential rehabilitation techniques and standardized necropsy protocols”.
The workshop focused on two critical aspects, “the rehabilitation of dashing Franciscans, from newborns to adults, and the ability to perform standardized necropsies to identify threats and causes of mortality”.
Both aspects are important as they allow for an increase in success rates in the rehabilitation of this species of dolphin, the development of an informed conservation strategy and the promotion of global collaboration in favor of the conservation of this cetacean.
For João Neves, director of Science and Conservation at Zoomarine, “the protection of the Franciscana is a global effort that goes beyond borders, requiring international cooperation, sharing of knowledge and mobilization of resources. Initiatives like this are fundamental to understanding the causes of mortality of the species, developing effective strategies for its conservation and reinforcing our commitment to a more sustainable future for marine life.”
“At Zoomarine, we believe that facing the challenges that put so many species on the brink of extinction is only possible through joint work, complemented by individual efforts to change behaviors that guarantee the protection and survival of species”, he adds.
The Franciscana faces multiple threats, including accidental capture in fishing nets, habitat degradation and the impact of human activities on coastal ecosystems. These pressures have contributed to the drastic reduction in populations of this species, which is now considered one of the most vulnerable among cetaceans. In Brazil, the situation is even more alarming, with the species classified as critically endangered.
With the integration of projects of this type, the aim is to continue “its work of raising public awareness of the importance of preserving marine ecosystems, inspiring concrete actions in favor of marine biodiversity”.
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