In Brazil, it is protected under the Federal Law, which prohibits hunting of any wildlife found in its territory for sale nationally or internationally
Threats/Pressures impacting the conservation of the species
Threats include incidental mortality in fishing gear, deliberate killing for fish bait, damming of rivers, and environmental pollution from organochlorines and heavy metals
Name
Emma Hemmerlé
Scientific Name
Sotalia fluviatilis
Common Name(s)
Tucuxi
Type of Use
Extractive (i.e., the entire organism or parts of the organism are removed from its environment)
If extractive, for the target species, is this use
Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of
Only parts or products of the organism (e.g., feathers, leaves, branches, eggs, nuts)
Details of parts/products taken
In Brazil, mainly in north, there is a market for the eyes, teeth, and genital organs of the dolphins, which are used as magical charms. The fat and oil of the skin also are used commercially and in traditional medicine ;
Local people (e.g., individuals, communities, co-operatives)
Unknown/not recorded
Is the use part of a strategy to generate conservation incentives, to finance conservation, or to improve tolerance/stewardship?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting the conservation status of the species? HIDE
No – no clear evidence of the impact of use compared to other factors influencing
Is there evidence that the use is affecting natural selection?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting poaching of illegal wildlife trade?
Unknown/not reported
Is there any evidence that this use of the species is having a knock-on effect on the status of non-target species
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Details of assessment carried out
The demand for dolphin products in local markets may impact S. fluviatilis’ populations. However the magnitude of this impact needs to be further investigated and better understood.
Has a valuation of financial flows from this use at the site/national/international level been recorded
Alves, R.R.N., Rosa, I.L. Use of Tucuxi Dolphin Sotalia fluviatilis for Medicinal and Magic/Religious Purposes in North of Brazil. Hum Ecol 36, 443–447 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-008-9174-5
Threats/pressures impacting the species at the scale of this record