A Dolphin's Tale

One of the most fascinating 'discoveries' made by the Jacques Costeau expedition to the Amazon was the existence of, and the legends surrounding one of the most amazing animals on earth, the Amazon River dolphin or Boto. Of course, to natives of Amazonia the 'mermaid-like' (as described by a French explorer to the region in the 18th century) legends involving one of the friendliest dolphin species in the world were already well-known. That, and other legends and beliefs regarding the Boto became basis of very strong taboos against harming the dolphins of the Ticuna and almost all other tribes and peoples of the Amazon. Scientists agree that the Boto is an amazing animal if only for its proven abilities. The Boto has a brain that is 40% larger than a human's, is the most flexible dolphin on earth and has a sonar that can locate fish in the muddiest waters. Natives of Amazonia believe the animal is even more amazing. One particular legend of the Boto states that juvenile Botos will occasionally fall in love with humans that they see on shore. At night, the legend goes, they have the capability of appearing to humans as stunningly beautiful humans. A Dolphin's Tale tells the story of one such Boto and the young Ribereno (mixed blood Amazonian native) boy that she falls in love with. Termed a "beautiful story" by Leo P.H. Chu, Vice President for Creative Affairs for Disney Feature Animations, the book contains 22 illustrations, as well as the story and extensive end notes that are mind-opening and educational. Furthermore, in light of the increasing threats to the Amazonian rainforest, river dolphins worldwide and the liveability of our planet as a whole, I believe that A Dolphin's Tale is a story that needs to be told. As stated in the book a portion of the books proceeds go to programs to save freshwater dolphins worldwide.