The Wildlife Spectacle of the Pantanal

Jaguars are prevalent here and have become a major lure for wildlife photographers from all over the world. The magnificence and mystery of these big cats are certainly the main draw, yet there is so much more to this region that has been called “Brazil’s Best Kept Secret,’ by National Geographic.

The Pantanal – which is ten times the size of the Florida Everglades – is located in south-central Brazil, and is one of the world’s largest inland concentrations of waterbirds, home to about 656 bird species alongside 3,500 plant species, 325 fish species, 159 mammals, 53 amphibian and 98 reptiles. 

The word ‘Pantanal’ translates in Portuguese (the language spoken in Brazil) to “wetland, bog, swamp or marsh” a perfect description for the seasonally flooded wetland that covers over 80,000 square miles. During each ‘wet’ season, waters from the neighboring central plateau fill the river systems of the Pantanal. The Cuiaba, Paraguay, Piquiri and Taquari rivers and their tributaries spill over their banks and flood the region. These floodwaters bring with them important nutrients as well as lots and lots of fish. 

While the area is flooded, waterbirds will disperse to find food. Yet, when these floodwaters recede, lagoons shrink and become isolated as small ponds. This creates rich concentrated locales for birds and other wildlife to focus their efforts on. Swamps are full of waterfowl like egret, cormorant, spoonbill, stork, five kinds of kingfisher, as well as the famous Jabiru, which has become one of the unofficial mascots of the region. 

Forested Islands
These small areas of forest are always elevated above the water. These groves, which are spotted across the landscape and feature the manduvi tree as well as palms. This is an important nesting area for Jabiru, as well as the Hyacinth Macaw, which is the famous blue parrot. During the floods, these areas offer dry land for mammals such as the Giant Anteater, Marsh Deer, and armadillos. Palm trees provide food for monkeys, agoutis, and squirrels. 

Forests
Gallery forests are found along rivers and play an important role in impeding erosion as tree roots hold the soil against water. Breeding colonies of storks, herons, cormorants, and other water birds are sometimes found in riverside trees. Giant Otters can be numerous along rivers. Certain monkeys are also restricted to these forests, with Black-and-gold Howler Monkeys being most common. 

Higher ground dry forests, which are located above the flood levels, provide a home and hunting grounds for jaguars. Jaguars are often found maneuvering through these forests, alongside the riverbanks, hunting for capybara and caiman, or simply sunning themselves.