Nature Photos of the Week
July 10, 2007
Brazil's Pantanal:
Vistas and Spectacular Wildlife!
Brazil's Pantanal next offered October 29 - November 8, 2007
Click Here for the Itinerary Link!
The Pantanal is the world’s largest wetland area, a flat landscape, with gently sloping and meandering rivers. The region, whose name derives from the Portuguese word “pântano” (meaning “swamp” or “marsh” ), is situated in South America, mostly within the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. There are also small portions in Bolivia and Paraguay. In total, the Pantanal covers about 58,000 square miles.
Cerrado vista over the Pantanal © 2004 Andrew Griswold
The Pantanal floods during the wet season, submerging over 80% of the area, and nurturing the world's richest collection of aquatic plants. It is thought to be the world’s most dense flora and fauna ecosystem. It is often overshadowed by the Amazon Rainforest, partly because of its proximity, but is just as vital and interesting a part of the neotropics.
Close to the edge of the Cerrado © 2004 Andrew Griswold
Pantanal in the distance © 2004 Andrew Griswold
Travelers © 2004 Andrew Griswold
This ecosystem is home to a known 3,500 species of plants, as well as over 650 birds, 400 species of fish, around 100 species of mammals, and 80 species of reptiles, including the caiman, a species closely related to the alligator, of which there are an estimated 10 million. The Pantanal is a natural home for the Hyacinth Macaw. This bird is endangered due to its $15,000 price tag on the black market. Other threatened species include the Jaguar, Caimen, Maned Wolf, Giant River Otter, Giant Armadillo, Capybara, and Tapir.
Black-collared Hawk, Busarellus nigricollis © 2004 Andrew Griswold
Greater Rhea, Rhea americana © 2004 Andrew Griswold
Giant River Otter © 2004 Andrew Griswold
The Giant Otter can reach up to 6 ft in length, and weigh up to 76 lb.
The Giant Otter is one of the largest predators of its region, and so can choose from a wide variety of animals to feed on. It feeds mainly on fish, such as catfish, piranha, and perch, but will also feed on crabs, small caimen, and snakes, including small anacondas. It can hunt both in groups and alone, tending to head towards the deeper waters while in groups.
Large-billed Tern, Phaetusa simplex © 2004 Andrew Griswold
The Pantanal of South America is one of the most immense, pristine and biologically rich environments on the planet. Often referred to as the world’s largest freshwater wetland system, it extends through millions of acres of central-western Brazil, eastern Bolivia and eastern Paraguay. With its extraordinarily concentrated and diverse flora and fauna, and a landscape spanning a variety of ecological sub-regions, the Pantanal stands as one of the world’s great natural wonders.
Hyacinth Macaw, Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus © 2004 Andrew Griswold
This area is an unparalleled wildlife sanctuary of spectacular beauty, an ecological paradise containing hundreds of species of birds, thousands of varieties of butterflies, myriads of brightly colored flowers, and shoals of fish. Capuchin and Howler monkeys, capybaras, toucans, anacondas, caimans and tapirs help create an aquatic and sylvan theater of sights and sounds. The endangered jaguar, and increasingly rare Hyacinthine macaws and giant river otters, all make their home in the Pantanal.
Tour Guide and "Giant" Caimen (not really!)
