The PANTANAL is a natural region encompassing the world's largest tropical wetland area. It is located mostly within the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, but it extends into Mato Grosso and portions of Bolivia and Paraguay. It sprawls over an area estimated at between 54,000 and 75,000 sq mi. Roughly 80% of the Pantanal floodplains are submerged during the rainy seasons, nurturing an astonishing biologically diverse collection of aquatic plants and helping to support a dense array of animal species. The name "Pantanal" comes from the Portuguese word pântano, meaning wetland, bog, swamp, quagmire or marsh.
The Transpataneira
The TRANSPANTANEIRA is a dusty dirt road that crosses the Pantanal. It's 91 miles long and crosses no less than 122 wooden bridges. The road is elevated and built on a berm above the wetlands because the Pantanal floods during the rainy season. It takes about 5 hours to traverse the entire length, which we did, to get to an area inhabited by jaguars..
Ranchers use the Tranpantaneira to move their cattle and are known for blocking the road.
We traveled in small boats to see the wetlands and search for the wildlife.
Hotels are few and far between. This boat, the only one if its kind in the area, is moored near the jaguars and served as our hotel. Accommodations were sparse, but well kept and convenient.
Caimen
Caimans, relatively small-sized crocodilians, are in the alligator family and live in Central and South America. They were everywhere in the Pantanal , and we were told that there are approximately 150 caiman per square kilometer. Early on, we had to get use to the fact that they were directly next to our boats and often on the banks as we boarded. While initially unnerving, we got use to their presence.
Parrots & Macaws
Birds are ubiquitous in the Pantanal, and the number of species is quite mind numbing. One finds them everywhere. Among them are the Hyacinth Macaws and the Red & Green Macaws pictured here. And of course, there are the parakeets.
Hyacinth Macaws
Red & Green Macaws (aka Green-winged Macaws)
Peach-fronted Parakeets
Hyacinth Macaws
Red & Green Macaws
Yellow-chevroned Parakeet
Red & Green Macaw
Hyacinth Macaw
Jaguars
Jaguars live on dry land despite the fact that they live in wetland areas. Unlike most cats they are able to swim. We spent all of our time on boats with a few short stops on land. Jaguars are the largest felines on the American continent, and are the only world’s ‘big’ cats to be found in the New World.
Jaguars are closely related to Leopards and have a number of similar characteristics including the distinctive spotted pattern on their fur. Jaguars are well known for their immense power and agility. In fact, the name Jaguar is said to come from the Native American word "yaguar" which means “he who kills with one leap”.
Giant River Otters
Giant River Otters are carnivorous mammals living in and near fresh water streams. They subsist almost exclusively on a diet of fish, particularly characins and catfish, but may also eat crabs, turtles, snakes and small caiman. Other than humans, they have no serious natural predators.
Giant River Otter
Capybaras are the largest living rodent in the world. They inhabit savannas and dense forests and live near bodies of water. They are a highly social species and can be found in groups as large as 100 individuals, but usually live in groups of 10–20 individuals. The capybara is not a threatened species, but it is a favorite food of jaguars.
Capybara with Cub
Pantanal Birds
One of the joys of the Pantanal is to see so many bird species of different sizes.
Capped Heron
Southern-crested Caracara
Black-capped Donacobius
Roadside Hawk
Ringed Kingfisher
Buff-necked Ibis
Jabiru Stork & Chick
There is so much more to see in the Pantanal. I look forward to returning.
L. Carl Volpe -- carl.volpe@gmail.com
More from the Pantanal and my other trips may be found at the links below.