Pantanal...Jaguars, Caimans and More
The Pantanal is one of the world's largest tropical wetland areas, and is located mostly within the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul. It sprawls over an area estimated at between 54,000 and 75,000 sq mi. About 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 Pantanal ecosystem is also thought to be home to 1000 bird species, 400 fish species, 300 mammalian species, 480 reptile species and over 9000 different subspecies of invertebrates. Among the rarest animals to inhabit the wetland of the Pantanal are the marsh deer and the giant river otter. Parts of the Pantanal are also home to the following endangered or threatened species: the hyacinth macaw (a bird endangered due to smuggling), the crowned solitary eagle, the maned wolf, the bush dog, the South American tapir and the giant anteater. Common species in the Pantanal include the capybara and the yacare caiman. The Pantanal is home to one of the largest and healthiest jaguar populations on Earth.
In August of 2013 I joined 7 other intrepid photo tourers for a trip to Brazil's Pantanal region. The trip was organized by Joe van Os Photo Safaris ( http://www.photosafaris.com). Our in-country guide was Paulo Boute (pauloboute@hotmail.com)...with extraordinary knowledge of all the creatures of the Pantanal.
Read MoreThe Pantanal ecosystem is also thought to be home to 1000 bird species, 400 fish species, 300 mammalian species, 480 reptile species and over 9000 different subspecies of invertebrates. Among the rarest animals to inhabit the wetland of the Pantanal are the marsh deer and the giant river otter. Parts of the Pantanal are also home to the following endangered or threatened species: the hyacinth macaw (a bird endangered due to smuggling), the crowned solitary eagle, the maned wolf, the bush dog, the South American tapir and the giant anteater. Common species in the Pantanal include the capybara and the yacare caiman. The Pantanal is home to one of the largest and healthiest jaguar populations on Earth.
In August of 2013 I joined 7 other intrepid photo tourers for a trip to Brazil's Pantanal region. The trip was organized by Joe van Os Photo Safaris ( http://www.photosafaris.com). Our in-country guide was Paulo Boute (pauloboute@hotmail.com)...with extraordinary knowledge of all the creatures of the Pantanal.
