Friday Morning, August 13, 1999

This morning we traveled to San Pablo de Tipishca, an oxbow lake off the Marañon. We were not able to take the Delfin into the lake as the water was so low. Instead we traveled in the small boats. One group surveyed one part of the lake while the another group surveyed a different part.

The lake is an area where many dolphins of both species have been observed by Tamara in the past. This morning however, we only spotted two botos. When we stopped and asked local villagers if they had seen any dolphins they all said, "No, they are in the Marañon river."

The water level is almost at its lowest for the year which could account for why there are so few dolphins at this time. Yet Tamara does not know for certain why this is so. This is an area she will continue to monitor over the next year.

MidlineTransect (boat remains as close to middle of river as possible)

Location: Marañon River

Platform: Deck of the Delfin

Position Start: s0433333w7414813

Position End: s0438771w7347340

Observer Positions: Data represents both sides of the boat.

Moving downriver

Weather Conditions:

• Start: Sunny, wind speed 8.0 miles per hour, boat speed 12.9 miles per hour
• Finish: Sunny

Water Level: Low (Water level approximately 3 meters lower than one week ago.)

Start time: 1:00 pm Finish time: 4:05 pm

B = boto dolphins, T = tucuxi dolphins, U = unidentified

Total number of botos = 16
Total number of tucuxi =16
Total number of unidentified = 0
Total number of dolphins = 32