One of my friend’s on facebook posted a link of a pink dolphin that was sited in an inland lake in
But of course, as curious as I am, when I was searching for more information about dolphins I found out that there are known species of pink dolphins living in the Amazon. The taxonomic name of this type of unique dolphin is Inia geoffrensis. The reasons for the distinctive coloration of Inia geoffrensis are poorly understood, but the presence of capillaries near the surface of the skin probably accounts for much of its characteristic pink flush. Other factors may include age of the animal, chemical disposition of the water (especially iron content), and the temperature of the water. What makes this even better is that the Brazilians even have a myth about them! They call them “Encantados”. The sad thing is that these beautiful creatures are endangered due to pollution of the amazon and fishing nets.
Encantado is a word in Brazilian Portuguese that means “enchanted one”. The Brazilian term is used for creatures that come from a paradisiacal underwater realm called the Encante. It may refer to spirit beings or shape shifting dolphins with the ability to turn into humans. Although belief in them is starting to wane, there are still plenty of South Americans who believe in their existence ardently, and claim to have seen and interacted with them, or even that they are related to them. They share the most of the same themes and features as the fairies of European folklore.
Most commonly, the stories involve a type of freshwater dolphin which lives in the
Pictures of Inia geoffrensis:
There are three elements that best characterize Encantados: superior musical ability, their seductiveness and love of sex (often resulting in illegitimate children), and their attraction to parties. Despite the fact that the Encante come from a place that’s supposed to be a utopia full of wealth and without pain or death, the Encantados crave the pleasures and hardships of the human world.
Transformation into human form seems to be rare, and usually occurs at night. The Encantado will often be seen running from a fiesta, despite protests from the others for it to stay, and can be seen by pursuers as it hurries to the river and reverts back to dolphin form. When it is under human form, it wears a hat to hide its prominent forehead, which does not disappear with the shape shift.
Besides the ability to shape shift into human form, Encantados frequently wield other magical abilities, such as the power to control storms, “enchant” or haunt humans into doing their will or becoming Encantados themselves, and inflict illness, insanity, and even death. Shamans and holy men are often needed to intervene and ameliorate the situation, but sometimes the spell is so great that it can not be completely cured.
It has been suggested that the myth arose partly because dolphin genitalia bear a resemblance to that of humans. Kidnapping is also a common theme in such folklore. Encantados are said to be fond of abducting humans they fall in love with, children born of their illicit love affairs, or just anyone near the river who can keep them company, and taking them back to the Encante. The fear of this is so great for many people who live across the Amazon rivers area that many of them, children and adults alike, are terrified of going near the water in certain hours like 6 PM or basically alone. In the local area, there are also tales that it is bad luck to kill an Amazon River Dolphin. Legend also states that if a person makes eye contact with an Amazon River Dolphin, that person will have nightmares for the rest of his or her life. Some who have encountered Encantados out in canoes have been said to have gone insane, although the creatures seem to have done little more than follow their boats and nudge them from time to time.
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