In the center of the South American continent, south of the Amazon basin and east of the Andes, lies an immense landlocked river delta where annual flood waters regularly rise several meters and then recede. For the abundant and diverse plants and animals living there, the flood pulse in normal and life giving.
The Pantanal is one of our planet’s most spectacular wetland systems. The following information on this region is exerpted from “The Pantanal in the 21st Century: For the World’s Largest Wetland, an Uncertain Future,” by Frederick A. Swarts, which serves as the introduction to the book The Pantanal of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay (Hudson MacArthur 2000). This edited volume is a select collection of papers presented at the first and second World Conference on Preservation and Sustainable Development in the Pantanal.
Brazil’s Pantanal, the butterfly fall on the body caiman
Introduction – Pantanal, Brazil
The Pantanal of South America is one of the most immense, pristine and biologically rich environments on the planet. Often referred to as the world’s largest freshwater wetland system, it extends through millions of hectares of central-western Brazil, eastern Bolivia and eastern Paraguay. With its extraordinarily concentrated and diverse flora and fauna, and a landscape spanning a variety of ecological sub-regions, the Pantanal stands as one of the world’s great natural wonders.
This area is an unparalleled wildlife sanctuary of spectacular beauty, an ecological paradise containing hundreds of species of birds, thousands of varieties of butterflies, myriads of brightly colored flowers, and shoals of fish. Capuchin and Howler monkeys, capybaras, toucans, anacondas, caimans and tapirs help create an aquatic and sylvan theater of sights and sounds. The endangered jaguar, and increasingly rare Hyacinthine macaws and giant river otters, all make their home in the Pantanal. The Pantanal also provides incalculable economic benefits. It offers a huge area for water purification and groundwater discharge and recharge, climate stabilization, water supply, flood abatement, and an extensive, transport system, among numerous other important functions. And yet, despite the region’s beauty and remarkable environmental and economic value, the Pantanal remains poorly known and faces an uncertain future stemming from a myriad of socioeconomic pressures. The Florida Everglades is a stark reminder of how quickly even a major wetland system can experience devastating ecological and economic consequences when there are poor management responses to such pressures. The Everglades system declined catastrophically in just 50 years. While the Pantanal remains comparatively untouched, without correct understanding, timely action and wise management, its future could be seriously compromised.
Facts & Figures - Pantanal, Brazil
The Pantanal covers an area of up to 210,000km2 (or 81,000 sq. miles).
It is 10 times the size of Florida’s Everglades.
The Pantanal is home to about 3500 plant species, 656 bird species, 325 fish species, 159 mammals, 53 amphibian and 98 reptiles.
Average yearly rainfall is 1,000-1,400mm (40-55 inches).
Over 80% of the Pantanal floodplains are submerged during the rainy seasons.
The name “Pantanal” comes from the Portuguese word pântano, meaning wetland, bog, swamp or marsh.
John Grisham’s novel The Testament largely takes place in the Pantanal.
Story: Jaguar Attacks Caiman In Brazil’s Pantanal Wetlands
How hungry do you have to be before fighting a caiman sounds like a good idea? In the Pantanal, Brazil’s eastern wetlands, the answer seems to be “about average.”
The proof is captured in an astounding set of photos taken by Justin Black, a nature photographer and the founder of Visionary Wild, a wildlife photography school.
The photos show a stealthy jaguar slowly emerge from undergrowth behind a Yacare caiman that’s busy sunning itself on the opposite side of a stretch of river. Undeterred by the water, the jaguar slips into the river, sneaks up behind the caiman, and attacks.
Jaguar Attacks Caiman In Brazil’s Pantanal Wetlands
Jaguar Attacks Caiman
Brazil’s Pantanal Wetlands
“He lifted the 150lb caiman from the ground and trotted toward the water like it was a doggie bone,” Black told the Daily Mail. “The fact he attacked from the water is astonishing … It was reminiscent of crocs attacking land animals in Africa.”
Panthera, a wild cat conservation group, reports Brazil’s Pantanal is home to the highest density of jaguars in the world. National Geographic lists the animal as “near threatened,” noting the creature is often targeted by hunters, as well as ranchers who see the cats as a threat to livestock.
Pantanal preservation
Although large areas of the Pantanal remain untouched, it is threatened by expanding human settlement, unsustainable farming practices, illegal mining, hydroelectric power plant construction and unregulated tourism.
When compared to other wetlands in the world, the Pantanal is regarded as the most preserved, but still less than 2% is under government protection.
Caiman Ecological Refuge is located on a 53 thousand hectare ranch adjoining the small town of Miranda, in the Pantanal wetland, situated in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. Caiman Ecological Refuge has three major activities in this magnificent setting:
Caiman Ecological Refuge
Caiman Lodge
Caiman Lodge was established in 1985 as the first ecotourism operation in the Southern Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul. Since then, it has aimed at creating and offering visitors a means of getting close to the Pantanal’s nature and culture, while pursuing excellence in hospitality services and gastronomy.
It consists of two lodges – Cordilheira and Baiazinha – which have fully independent operations and are 22 km from each other.
Nature Conservation Program
The Caiman Ecological Refuge operates an important Nature Conservation Program, which is recognized domestically and internationally. This consists of maintaining a Private Reserve of Natural Patrimony (RPPN) on a 5,600 hectare area and supporting various research and species management projects carried out on the whole ranch.
In addition, nature conservation values are applied in lodge operations, such as the Caiman Recycling project, which involves collection and separation of recyclable or dangerous waste on the whole property and educating employees on environmental responsibilities.
Caiman Ranch
Miranda Estancia, a traditional cattle ranch founded in 1910 by English investors, was the precursor of the present Caiman Ranch. The ranch currently runs around 35,000 head of cattle on natural pasture, seeking harmonious integration of livestock with the wildlife. This operation is open to visitors and can be seen at first hand by anyone interested.
The permanent residents’ community for both lodge and ranch employees and their families, houses 180 people. In addition to having access to a school, medical and dental care and the necessary infrastructure, all employees are trained in and committed to the Caiman Ecological Refuge social and environmental program.
Fauna
The Pantanal’s abundant aquatic environments provide conditions for profusion of aquatic fauna, formed by enormous concentrations of snails, crustaceans, amphibians animals and fish.
These in turn attract progressively larger predators, such as birds, reptiles and mammals, in a mega-diverse food chain which constitutes the largest concentration of wildlife in the Americas.
According to the World Wildlife Fund in Brazil (WWF), there was been identification of:
1700 plant species
over 400 fish species
80 mammal species
over 1100 butterfly species
656 bird species
Paraguaian Caiman
Caiman yacare
Can grow to 10 feet long and weigh 190 pounds. It feeds on fish, mollusks, crustaceans and insects. Between January and March, the female lays 30 eggs in nests in the bush or on floating islands of vegetation, which incubate in 80 days. Caimans are “cold blooded” animals and they are found in lakes and river banks of the Pantanal, basking in the sun to control their body temperature.
Anaconda
Eunectes notaeus
One of the largest snakes in the world, it can grow to 20 feet long. It feeds on fish, birds and small mammals such as capybaras and monkeys. It is not poisonous. When it attacks its preys, it wraps itself around their body, and squeezes to stop their breathing. After that it swallows the prey whole and digests the complete carcass, in a lengthy process that can take months. Its extraordinary size has made it a protagonist in many regional legends.
Jaguar
Panthera onca
The largest cat in the Americas and largest predator on the South American continent, the jaguar is attracted to the Pantanal by the abundance of food. Territorially protective, it feeds on medium to large-sized mammals, reptiles and birds. It can reach a length of 8,5 feet long and weigh up to 250 pounds. They are solitary animals and only seek a mate during the breeding season. Gestation lasts 100 days and up to four cubs are usually born.
March Deer
Blastocerus dichotomus
The largest deer of South America is reddish in color, has black legs and forked antlers and can weigh up to 330 pounds . Herbivorous, it feeds on shrubs and legumes and prefers wetlands and floodplains. Its gestation period is nine months, with usually only one fawn being born. Its webbed hoof prevents the animal from sinking into flooded areas, a specialization to its life habit.
Giant Anteater
Myrmecophaga tridactyla
It takes its Portuguese name from its long, flag-shaped tail. They feed on ants and termites, easily captured by using their elongated, slender snouts. They have well-developed claws on their forefeet, which they use to rip apart termite nests and anthills. They can weigh up to 130 pounds and measure up to 5,9 feet. Gestation lasts 190 days and only one young is born, which is carried on the mother’s back until the age of nine months.
Birds
Due to its central location and abundant aquatic environments, it is an important breeding ground for many bird species, as well as a strategic intermediate landing for migratory birds, receiving visiting birds from neighboring biomes as well migrants between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Throughout the year, huge flocks concentrate along the rivers, lagoons and inlets, attracted by the abundance of fish, snails and small crustaceans.
In the breeding season, many species build their nests on river banks, creating vibrant nursery areas, which catch the visitor’s attention. At sunrise and sunset, one of the most fascinating wetland spectacles is to see the large flocks returning to their evening roosts.
Hyacinth Macaw
Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
This is the world´s largest macaw, and can reach 3,3 feet in length and weigh up to 2,8 pounds. It inhabits areas of savannas (cerrado) and the Amazon, but the largest population is in the Pantanal. It feeds on seeds and palm fruit. They live in pairs or small groups and build nests in tree holes. Either 1 or 3 eggs are laid which are incubated for 30 days.
Endangered species
Blue Fronted Parrot
Amazona aestiva
They can grow to 1.24 feet in length and 0.9 pounds in weight. Occur throughout most of South America. They feed on seeds and fruit pulp and build their nests in hollow palm trunks. They lay 3 to 5 eggs which are incubated for 27 days. Because of its talking ability, it is a species widely targeted by animal traffickers.
Jabiru Stork
Jabiru mycteria
Jabiru Stork is the symbol bird of the Pantanal, where the largest population is found. With 8.2 feet wingspan and 4.6 feet tall it can weigh 19 pounds. It feeds on fish, mollusks and insects and builds its nest high in branches of trees along the riverbanks. They lay from 2-5 eggs, which are incubated for 28 days.
Toco Toucan
Ramphastos toco
This is the world’s largest toucan, reaching up to 22 inches in length and weighing 1.2 pounds. Its large orange-yellow beak can reach 8.5 inches and disperses heat. It feeds on fruits and small animals. Breeds in late spring, laying 2-4 eggs, in nests high in trees that are incubated for 18 days.
King Vulture
Sarcoramphus papa
The exuberance of its color, size up to three times greater than that of other species and the extraordinary strength of its beak, have earned this bird the title of King. It feeds on dead animals, playing an important role in cleaning the environment. It measures up to 2.8 feet in length and has a 6.6 feet wingspan and weighs up to 2.2 pounds. Breeds between July and December, laying 1- 2 eggs, which are incubated for 58 days.