BRAZIL WILDLIFE THE PANTANAL PART 1

The Pantanal is a natural region encompassing the world's largest tropical wetland area, and the world's largest flooded grasslands. It is located mostly within the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso , but also extends into portions of Bolivia and Paraguay. It sprawls over an area estimated at between (54,000 and 75,000 sq mi).

It consists of a gigantic sedimentary basin, surrounded by areas of higher ground. The area is dominated by the Paraguay River and its tributaries – during the rainy season (from December to March) these rivers back up and burst their banks, flooding 80% of the landscape and forming a myriad of marshes, swamps and shallow lakes. The floodwaters also give the Pantanal’s soil enormous fertility, supporting a vibrant community of plants. There are over 150 species of mammal and some 600 species of bird to be found here. It is now in August during the dry season that wildlife-viewing is at its most spectacular. As the waters recede, many kinds of creatures are drawn to the shrinking pools, often in high concentrations.

We start our exploration of the Pantanal on our way from the airport at Cuiaba to our first Lodge at the Pouso Alegre Lodge along the famous Transpantaneira, the only road to penetrate deep into the wetland’s heart. Over 100 miles in length, and crossing some 120 bridges along the way, this causeway passes through open savannahs and wetlands, where a roadside abundance of wildlife can be seen and we manage to film some interesting species on the way to the lodge.

Pouso Alegre Lodge is a working farm covering an area of 8000 hectares and situated in the Northern Pantanal. Here we explore the remaining waterholes that attract both birds and mammals that go to drink from them. We film, amongst others, Tapir, Crab eating Racoon, Tyra, Hyacinth Macaws, Crab eating fox, Toco Toucan and a host of different birds and other creatures.
Closer to the start of the road, before reaching the true watery core of the Pantanal, one passes through an area of ranch land. Most human activity is set back from the road and is not immediately obvious to passers-by, but still, this is one of Brazil’s most important beef-producing regions. Nevertheless, many of these ranches are fantastic places for wildlife, offering a chance to see species that are less suited to true wetland habitats.

The ranches also provide remarkable opportunities for birding. One of the most sought-after species is the stunning Hyacinth Macaw, the world’s largest flying parrot. This is a bird that has been hit hard by habitat loss and trapping for the pet trade, and the Pantanal is its greatest remaining stronghold. Another avian icon of the Pantanal is the huge Jabiru Stork, the tallest flying bird in the American tropics – the biggest males can stand over a metre-and-a-half high. The drier landscapes of the Pantanal are dotted with their great tree-platform nests.

The Transpantaneira finally ends in the small village of Porto Jofre, on the Cuiaba River. Here, we take to the water and stay in the floatel a floating hotel on the Piquiri River to look for the Jaguar These wetlands host the greatest known concentrations of the Americas’ largest cat – they exist here at densities double those recorded anywhere else. This is partly due to an abundance of food – Jaguars in the Pantanal have an unusually aquatic diet, regularly hunting caimans and capybara and relying heavily on fish.
We will also look for Another scarce mammal that is found here, the amazing Giant Otter, and also the myriad of bird life to be found whilst cruising along the many waterways off the main rivers.

THIS IS A RECORD OF THE WONDERFUL WILDLIFE WE SAW AND FILMED DURING THE THREE WEEK TRIP. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN AND WANT TO BE KEPT UP TO DATE WITH NEW CLIPS AND VIDEOS OF AMAZING WILDLIFE IN AMAZING PLACES THEN PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL; A WILDLIFE ODYSSEY at this link;
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SEE ALSO "THE PANTANAL BRAZIL PART 2" at this Link;    • BRAZIL WILDLIFE THE PANTANAL PART 2 #...