for example, of the 15 dolphin carcasses found in the japurá river in 2010–2011 surveys, 73% of the dolphins were killed for bait, disposed of, or abandoned in entangled gillnets. the data does not fully represent the actual overall number of deaths of the amazon river dolphins, whether accidental or intentional, because a variety of factors make it extremely complicated to record and medically examine all the carcasses. scavenger species feed upon them and the complexity of the river currents makes it nearly impossible to locate all the carcasses. more importantly, the local fishermen do not report these deaths out of fear that legal action will be taken against them, as the amazon river dolphin and other cetaceans are protected under the brazilian federal law, prohibiting any takes, harassments, and kills of the species.