Are Amazon River Dolphins Dangerous?

Dolphins are some of the most popular sea creatures in the ocean. Their playful demeanors and unique communicational clicks bring joy to spectators and old-world sailors. Dolphins are thought to bring good luck and fortune as they leap in a ship’s wake.

However, not all dolphins are as kind and playful as their oceanic counterparts. Some dolphins lurk beneath the depths, watching humans from a distance, and vanishing before an angler gets a clear glimpse. Legends tell of river dolphins capable of coming onto land, ruining families, and stealing infants from their beds.

These tales of the Amazon River dolphin are so prominent that it begs the question, are these animals dangerous to humans?

Amazon River Dolphin Facts

To understand if an animal is dangerous, it is important to understand what they are and what they are capable of.

Amazon River dolphins (or pink river dolphins) live in the Amazon River Basin in South America. They are found across Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela.

Shy by nature, they will avoid directly interacting with humans unless they learn the habits and schedule of the locals. Once the dolphins recognize there is no threat, they will actively investigate human boats and people. The Amazon River dolphin has the largest brain in the whole dolphin family, making them incredibly intelligent.

On average, these dolphins can reach 9 feet long and weigh nearly 400 pounds. They feed on a variety of fish like croakers, catfish, piranha, and tetras. By using their long snout, they can dig in the mud to feed on crustaceans, crabs, and turtles.

Why Are They Pink?

Technically, Amazon River dolphins are born gray. Their pink coloring results from battle scars on their body.

As they age, river dolphins fight with rival males during mating season. Rivals bump into one another with their snouts, causing the pink coloring to emerge. The brighter the pink color, the higher the chance to attract a female.

Legends of the River Dolphins

Myths and legends vary across South America regarding the river dolphins. Because they stay hidden from humanity, their mystery excites the imagination of the locals, creating fantastic and terrifying stories.

Human Transformation

Legends tell of the river dolphin (the boto) transforming into humans and walking among the locals.

The most common stories tell of boto transforming into a man and seducing women with their good looks and charming personalities. The boto impregnates the woman who gives birth to a half-boto half-human child. The boto father then brings the child to the river to raise it underwater.

Other legends tell of boto transforming into a woman and luring men away from their families to start a family together elsewhere.

Some boto are so powerful, they can transform their human mates into dolphins and live the rest of their lives in an underwater city. These creatures are masters of disguise through their transformation magic. The only way to identify one is to remove their hat, which hides their blowhole.

Never Swim at Night

Families warn their children never to go swimming in the river alone at night. Boto sneak up on children and drag them to an underwater city, from which they never return.

The story is an excellent way of teaching children to avoid engaging in dangerous activities.

Party Animals

Not all boto steal children or partners Some stories tell of boto coming onto land during times of festivals to celebrate with the locals. They dance, drink, and have sex with anyone they attract throughout the night.

Then, they return to the water and vanish before the sun rises the next morning.

Certain parts of Brazil call a child without a father a “child of the boto.”

Are Amazon River Dolphins Dangerous?

The stories and myths of the boto are mystifying and fantastic, but the real-life Amazon River dolphins are not dangerous to humans.

Biologists notice the river dolphins find humans amusing and will follow boats to understand how they are moving. The dolphins may nudge and bump into the boat to analyze it, but they do not try to flip it over, understanding humans need it to traverse the river.

Amazon River dolphin attacks are extremely rare. The dolphins recognize threats quickly and generally avoid humans. This awareness and caution make them mysterious animals, staying submerged for long periods of time while observing humans from a distance.

Amazon River Dolphin Attack

However, Amazon River dolphins are wild animals, and their personalities and habits cannot be predicted.

They have long jaws and strong teeth to catch fish and break crustacean shells. An average-sized river dolphin outweighs a standard human by 100-200 pounds, with the ability to move through the water quickly.

Newsweek reported a rare instance of an Amazon River dolphin attack in February 2023. Claire Byer, a 28-year-old woman, was swimming in the Santa Rosa de Yacuma River in Bolivia when a river dolphin bit her leg, causing deep tissue damage and revealing bone. Claire and her family were part of a tour group that was playing with pink river dolphins; one became restless and attacked.

Overall, interacting with any wild animals should be avoided. Amazon River dolphins may seem friendly, playful, and comfortable with humans, but they are still mysterious and wild animals that can go from playful to aggressive in moments. They may not pose a direct danger to humans, but humans must always treat them with respect and kindness when entering their territory. 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © dennisvdw/iStock via Getty Images