PUERTO NARINO, Colombia — A flash of pink breaks the muddy surface of the Amazon River as scientists and veterinarians patiently work a mesh net around a pod of river dolphins.

When the team hauls a dolphin into a boat, it thrashes as water streams from its pink-speckled sides. The crew quickly ferries it to the sandy riverbank, where adrenaline-charged researchers lift it onto a mat. They have 15 minutes — the limit for how long a dolphin can safely be out of the water — to complete their work.

Fernando Trujillo, a marine biologist leading the effort, kneels beside the animal's head, shielding its eye with a small cloth so it can't see what's happening. He rests his hand gently on the animal and speaks in low tones.

"They've never felt the palm of a hand. We try to calm them," said Tru

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