Effect of illegal harvest on apparent survival of Amazon River dolphins (Inia geoffrensis)

► We estimated apparent survival for a population of Inia geoffrensis. ► This population is illegally harvested for use as bait for Calophysus macropterus. ► Apparent survival significantly decreased by 0.069 after the start of harvest. ► Harvest rates exceed conservation limits and could lead to population depletion. ► Decline in survival may be mirrored in numerous locales throughout the Amazon.