Humans have created thousands of gods/religions throughout history, each believing theirs is the one true god/religion and that all the others are delusions. Since both ancient and current history has proven the three major Middle Eastern religions incapable of peaceful coexistence, if a person must practice a religion, why not try a different one from another part of the world? One that’s more fun and less violent.

The Amazon tribal belief in shape-shifting pink dolphins isn’t any more realistic than ancient Middle Eastern tribal beliefs in talking snakes, parting the seas, and rising from the dead, but at least their beliefs don’t lend themselves to the mass killing of others.

Pink dolphins are Encantados (enchanted shape-shifting beings) that live under the water in Encante (a heavenly city of riches that can instantly move from one place to another). Like mainstream religions, Encantados also provide plausible explanations for the unknown. For example, shape-shifting pink dolphins could explain unexpected pregnancies (a dolphin took human form and entranced her) and birth defects (a baby’s deformed hand might look like a flipper). Also, the drowning or sudden disappearance of a loved one is less painful if viewed as an abduction to Encante.

From my point of view, the best part of believing in shape-shifting pink dolphins and other animal Encantados is that it protects the real animals from being overhunted. Who would dare kill a deity?

Unfortunately, forceful indoctrination by Christian missionaries and other outside influences have eroded the old Amazon tribal beliefs—and the animals are paying the price.