Pantanal: Its Beauties and Its Sorrows

One of the biomes with the highest biodiversity on the planet, the Pantanal spans the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, as well as parts of Paraguay and Bolivia. Covering more than 138,000 km², it is home to over 1,500 plant species and over 1,200 animal species.

The Pantanal is the world’s largest continuous floodplain. It is crisscrossed by a complex network of rivers, streams, and brooks that provide water to the region and play a vital role for all its living beings.

The region experiences a cycle of flooding and drying out due to seasonal rains. During the rainy season, which runs from November to March, river waters overflow and flood much of the Pantanal.

The Brazilian Pantanal is also home to various indigenous groups, including the Guató, Terena, Bororó, Kinikinawa, and Kadiwéu. In addition to the groups who live there, other people may occasionally appear in the region due to seasonal migration or activities like fishing.

The total estimated population of the Pantanal is around three million inhabitants. Apart from the indigenous people, there are also non-indigenous inhabitants who make a living from activities such as livestock farming, fishing, and tourism.

The landscapes, the abundance of fauna and flora species, and boat trips in traditional Pantanal vessels are major draws for tourists.

Bird watchers, photographers, sport fishing enthusiasts, and general tourists visit the region every year.

The Pantanal region is one of the top places to observe the jaguar up close in its natural habitat. Measuring up to 1.90 meters in length and 80 centimeters in height, and weighing up to 135 kilograms, the largest feline in the Americas is a symbol of Brazilian fauna.

Alligators are also common in the Pantanal. One species found in the region is the broad-snouted caiman, which can measure up to three meters in length and inhabits riverbanks, streams, and ponds.

Victoria regia on the Paraguay River, in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso state

Common in cerrado areas, Pampas deer are mammals who live in small groups of five or six. Weighing between 30 and 40 kilograms, the males of this species have branched antlers that they shed and regrow annually.

The Pantanal is also home to several species of aquatic birds. One example is the cocoi heron, the largest heron in Brazil, which can have a wingspan of up to 1.8 meters. This solitary bird usually perches on riverbanks, where it catches fish, amphibians, and mollusks.

A symbol of the Pantanal’s biodiversity is the hyacinth macaw, which is the largest among the psittacid family – a group that includes parrots, parakeets, and macaws.

Most of the deforestation (80%) was recorded in Mato Grosso do Sul, impacting climate change and biodiversity and potentially leading to river siltation and increased erosion.

However, this production is often criticized by environmentalists and popular and socio-environmental entities because it is associated with deforestation, burning, and the use of pesticides.

Another significant problem in the Pantanal is the degradation of its territory due to fire, through wildfires and burning. Between 2018 and 2019, the number of fire outbreaks in the region increased by 344%.

Between 2019 and 2020, the biome suffered a true tragedy with over four million hectares burned, resulting in the death of about 10 million animals.

Without preservation and restoration, humanity risks losing one of its greatest natural treasures.