Update on the freshwater distribution of Sotalia in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Suriname

This paper conducted a review and update about the current distribution of Sotalia dolphins that inhabit freshwater in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, as well as freshwater and estuarine areas in Venezuela and Suriname. This review and update is based on previous research and on information from recent surveys conducted in selected rivers across the Amazon and Orinoco River basins, and in estuarine areas of Suriname. This paper is part of an initiative to establish a network of Freshwater Protected Areas (FWPAs), specifically involving researchers, governments and local communities into the South American River Dolphin Protected Area Network (SARDPAN), whose goal is to investigate the ecological integrity of freshwaters for the conservation of river dolphins in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins in South America.