Devastating Wildfires Ravage Brazilian Pantanal, Threatening Wildlife

Unprecedented wildfires, fueled by the El Nino weather pattern and climate change, devastate the Brazilian Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland, posing severe threats to its unique wildlife.

Jun 13, 2024 - 08:49
Devastating Wildfires Ravage Brazilian Pantanal, Threatening Wildlife

The scorched carcasses of monkeys, snakes, and caimans dot the charred expanses of the once-green Brazilian Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetlands.

As night falls, an amber tower of smoke lights the sky. There is no rest for the fire or the animals trying to flee.

"The fire is on a very large scale, there is no time for them to escape," said Delcio Rodrigues, head of the ClimaInfo Institute. "Sometimes they don't even have anywhere to escape."

The El Nino weather pattern, supercharged by climate change, has dried the area's rivers and disrupted its usual seasonal flooding, leaving the ecosystem vulnerable to fires.

This year is threatening to overtake 2020 as the Pantanal's worst year for wildfires on record, when the blazes killed an estimated 17 million vertebrates, according to a study published in Scientific Reports.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site, which covers an area more than twice the size of Portugal, is home to the world's largest jaguar species as well as species like the endangered tapir and giant anteaters.

Experts are warning of risks to those populations as the region heads into the riskiest season for wildfires, usually peaking in September.

"Climate change plus the fires, they end up completely changing the environment. In the long term, there's a reduction of biodiversity and loss of habitat," said Rodrigues.

"Wild animals have nowhere to go.






All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from TOP KNOWLEDGE MEDIA.

Contact: toppknowledgemedia@gmail.com

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The TOP KNOWLEDGE MEDIA on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!

Join Top Knowledge Media Channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaEUCpP4NVigCMWy8J22

What's Your Reaction?

like

dislike

love

funny

angry

sad

wow