Do you love dolphins? The majestic creatures, which never fail to impress us and always arouse the little kid in us. On just having sight of which, a smile comes on our faces. Dolphins often remind us of the beautiful oceans with the serene vastness, the pristine waters, the warm sun shining somewhere behind, capable of bursting our stress. The calmness, which brings our bewildered minds to peace. The silence, which is broken by the advent of our enthusiastic bonny dolphins, jumping high in the sky and then splashing back into the water. But what if I tell you that today we are going to discuss about the pink dolphins. Have you ever seen pink dolphins? The mischevious dolphins known for their breathtaking maneuvers.
Pink dolphins which inhabit mainly the Amazon River, are the largest freshwater dolphins in the world. Up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) long and 300 pounds (136.1 kg) heavy, they are generally found 2-4 at a time, but in pods they can count up to 30. The Hong Kong Pink Dolphin has its pink color due to the warm ocean currents which make their blood vessels and capillaries come close to the skin, thus giving them the pink color. They also blush like humans and exhibit their pink color gracefully. These pink dolphins are so smart that they can turn around 180°, perform maneuvers over rocks and trunks of trees, and have a brain 40% larger than yours. They use echolocation to find their ways and are ultra performers even in the shallow waters. Jolly by nature, this species is not afraid of you and will grab your oar, rub against your boat, play with sticks and would eat your fishes. But why are we suddenly talking about them today?
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world but the case is not the same for its pink dolphins. In Lantau island, there were 158 pink dolphins in 2003, but now only 47 of them remain. A steep 70% decline. This wonderful species which is capable of making people fall in love with it has fallen into the category of “endangered to vulnerable”. The effect is to such an extent that tourists who travel to have a look at them often return disappointed. Pink dolphins are getting so rare that in 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the species as being data deficient. The pollution in the Amazon river is increasing too.
And you know who is responsible for this? You. Me. We all are responsible for this. The major reasons for their plight are habitat loss, noise pollution, and DISCARDED WASTE. Every year, more than 20 million tonnes of plastic ends up in our oceans. The very plastic which can be avoided if we want to. Plastic bottles and plastic straws are the most common components of this plastic waste. The plastic pollution is harming them to the core as it also affects their reproduction process. The pink dolphins also face acoustic disturbances during their feeding processes.
The locals of Amazon consider pink dolphins to be benevolent creatures with magical powers but what humanity has done to them is far beyond the comprehension of these innocuous mammals. The pink dolphins are known for being fearless but what they should fear is us. They have no idea how much danger is being posed to their lives.
Every day we use so much plastic that it has become a part of us. We have inculcated in ourselves this “to be shunned” product so much, that we are not able to foresee our future without it. And how can we be? The problem is strong at the root as so many products are being manufactured in plastic packaging daily and everyone is using them recklessly. No one seems to be afraid of the future and this wounds me. The plastic which ends up in oceans, eventually also ends up in our taps in the form of microfibres. And you are drinking it every day. So basically, you are drinking the coke and the bottle too. The world is small and if you are not careful, you will face the consequences of your own deeds soon.
Hong Kong has established marine parks for its underwater creatures. The government has been running monitoring programs. But these steps alone are not enough. Unless the problem is solved from the node, nothing substantial will happen. Baby Solomon won’t reach home next time if the current situation persists. It is up to you to decide. 2 days, 3 days, or a week. Remember for however much time you want, but do remember. Do remember that the environment comprises not only green but blue too. Do remember that the vibrant ocean is in danger and you can play a crucial role to save it but only if you want. Even small steps matter and they add up to make a big difference.