A team of biologists, veterinarians, and fishermen has captured rare Amazon river dolphins to assess their health and prevent future deaths due to severe droughts exacerbated by climate change. Last year's drought, which was the longest recorded in the Amazon, resulted in the deaths of over 300 dolphins, primarily in Lake Tefé, where water temperatures spiked to intolerable levels. During the recent expedition, the dolphins were brought ashore for blood tests and implanted with microchips for satellite tracking to monitor their behavior and environmental conditions. Project leader Miriam Marmontel emphasized the importance of understanding how these dolphins react to rising temperatures and other stressors. The team aims to gather crucial data before the onset of the dry season to better predict and mitigate the impacts of climate change on this vulnerable species. Environmental activists have highlighted the role of global warming and El Niño in increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts in the region.