The Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), known locally as the boto, tonina, or pink river dolphin, is the largest freshwater cetacean on Earth — reaching up to 2.8 meters in length and 200 kg in weight. Classified as Endangered by the IUCN, this species inhabits the river systems of the Amazon and Orinoco basins across six South American countries. In Colombia, pink dolphins are distributed across at least 10 departments, from the Amazon lowlands to the eastern Llanos, making the country one of the most important range states for the species.
Population estimates suggest tens of thousands survive across their range, but numbers are declining rapidly — studies in Brazil’s Mamirauá Reserve documented a 50% population drop over a single decade, and in 2023, over 330 dolphins died during an extreme drought and heat event in the Amazon. Colombia’s rivers remain critical habitat, and responsible ecotourism is increasingly recognized as a tool for conservation. This guide covers the species’ biology, the best places to see pink dolphins in Colombia, and the threats they face.
Amazon River Dolphin Facts
- The Amazon River Dolphin is the largest freshwater cetacean in the world, it manages to reach lengths of up to 2.80 meters long and a maximum weight of 200 kilograms.
- Its color varies depending on age, young dolphins and females show grayish colors while adults, and principally the males, turn pink, which gives them their characteristic name.
- There are many theories to explain its color, but many agree it is a result of the wear and tear of their skin, and some scars.
- Scientists discovered that river dolphins come from a very ancient lineage that inhabited the seas.
- Its behavior is very different from sea dolphins. They use to have a solitary life, sometimes in small groups composed of a maximum of four members.
- Their food consists of crabs, river turtles, piranhas, and other river fish.
- The pink dolphin is part of the folklore of the inhabitants of the Amazon and there are many legends and myths around this animal.
Where to See Wildlife in Colombia
- Ultimate Guide to Visit Guainía: Jungle, Rivers and Astounding Views
- Putumayo, Colombia: Travel Guide to the Amazon Gateway — Wildlife, Waterfalls & Indigenous Culture (2026)
- Mammals of Colombia
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I see pink river dolphins in Colombia?
Pink river dolphins inhabit the Amazon, Orinoco, and their tributaries. The best viewing locations include the Amazon River near Leticia, the Orinoco basin rivers in the Llanos, and the Guaviare River system.
Why are Amazon river dolphins pink?
The pink coloration develops with age and is more pronounced in males. It results from blood capillaries near the skin surface, scar tissue from social interactions, and the thin, translucent quality of adult skin.
Are pink river dolphins endangered?
Yes. The Amazon River Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) is classified as Endangered by the IUCN. Threats include habitat degradation, water pollution from mining, fishing net entanglement, and dam construction that fragments populations.
What is the best time to see pink dolphins in Colombia?
The dry season (December-March) offers the best sightings as dolphins concentrate in deeper river channels. During the wet season, they disperse into flooded forests and are harder to locate.
How big do pink river dolphins get?
Adult Amazon River Dolphins can reach 2.5 meters in length and weigh up to 185 kilograms, making them the largest river dolphin species in the world. Males are significantly larger than females.
2026 update: the Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) is IUCN classified as Endangered + Colombia is one of the most important range states = present across at least 10 departments from the Amazon lowlands to the eastern Llanos + population estimates in the “tens of thousands” but the trend line is negative + a Brazilian study at Mamirauá Reserve documented ~50% population decline over a single decade + in 2023 more than 330 dolphins died in a single extreme drought / heat event in the Amazon + threats = mercury from illegal mining + bycatch + oil-pipeline pollution + dam fragmentation
The 2026 conservation status of the Amazon river dolphin. The Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) — locally called “delfín rosado” or “bufeo” — is currently classified as Endangered by the IUCN Red List. Global population estimates remain uncertain but are conventionally cited in the “tens of thousands”; the population trend is negative, and the species’ status has deteriorated over the last decade. A landmark study at the Mamirauá Reserve (Brazil) documented a ~50% population decline over a single decade, and in 2023 more than 330 dolphins died in a single extreme drought and heat event in the Amazon — a mass-mortality event that highlighted climate-change vulnerability. Colombia is one of the most important range states: the species is present across at least 10 Colombian departments, from the Amazon lowlands (Amazonas, Putumayo, Caquetá) through the Guaviare / Vaupés / Guainía river systems to the eastern Llanos (Meta, Vichada, Casanare, Arauca).
The 2026 threats and where to see pink river dolphins in Colombia. The main threats — in Colombia and range-wide — are mercury contamination from illegal alluvial gold mining, bycatch in artisanal fishing nets, hydroelectric-dam fragmentation of river systems, and oil-pipeline pollution (Colombia has repeatedly documented pipeline sabotage events causing river pollution in Putumayo and Arauca). For responsible viewing, the flagship access points are: (1) PNN Amacayacu and the Amazon trapezium villages of Puerto Nariño and Leticia, with dolphin-viewing on Lake Tarapoto (Ramsar site since 2018); (2) Puerto Inírida and the Inírida / Guaviare / Atabapo confluence in Guainía; (3) Sucre River / Bita River in Vichada. Ethical rules: do not swim with wild dolphins, do not feed them, and do not book “guaranteed sighting” tours that use bait — these degrade wild behaviour. Sources: IUCN Red List — Inia geoffrensis; WWF — Amazon River Dolphins report; Oryx / Cambridge — Mamirauá decline study.
Sara Colmenares holds a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Ecology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and a Master’s degree in Botany from the same institution. Her doctoral research focused on palm ecology in the Atlantic Forest, supported by the Rufford Foundation conservation grant.
A published researcher in the Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology and a member of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC), Sara has presented her work at international conferences across Latin America and beyond. She was awarded the COLCIENCIAS “Virginia Gutiérrez de Pineda” fellowship, one of Colombia’s most competitive academic distinctions for young researchers.
Sara founded the Sula nature tourism brand in 2018, applying her scientific expertise to develop birding and wildlife experiences across Colombia’s six natural regions. Her fieldwork took her from the cloud forests of the Andes to the Amazon basin, the Pacific coast, and the plains of the Orinoquía. She combined deep ecological knowledge with firsthand experience to create content that is both scientifically accurate and practically useful for nature travelers.
She holds a B.Sc. in Biology from the National University of Colombia, where she also taught plant ecophysiology. She speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and English.