Brazil wildfires killed an estimated 17 million animals

[Judi Lynn]

By Victoria Gill
Science correspondent, BBC News

Published 16 December



CENAP-ICMBIO

Scientists visited an area of the Pantanal within 48 hours of a fire

Amid the bleakness of 2020, scientists in Brazil concluded a particularly grim conservation study - attempting to count the animals killed by huge wildfires in the Pantanal wetlands.

They estimate that as many as 17 million vertebrates - including reptiles, birds and primates - died.

Wildfires burned between January and November, destroying 30% of the world's largest tropical wetland.

This estimate of the loss is published in the journal Scientific Reports.



The Pantanal is the largest wetland on the planet located in Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay

More:
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59670396



Pantanal, Brazil















Young Jaguar brothers in the Brazilian Pantanal



Crab-eating fox trotting in for an afternoon drink



Giant otter in the Pantanal







Black-tailed marmoset



Capybara

[abqtommy]

1. Thanks for this important news but mostly for the great pics of the critters. I've

bookmarked this thread and put it in my Pictures Folder.

[Judi Lynn]

2. I'm overwhelmed any and every time I spend a moment looking at google images of the Pantanal.

How could anyone consider touching the wetlands or the Amazon forest and their precious flora and fauna? Not a reason in the world.

You can get lost simply examining the breathtaking variety of life forms of these environments in the images available online, spend years there, a Rip Van Winkle-ish experience.

Thanks for taking the time.

[abqtommy]

4. We know that there are many humans who are ignorant and malevolent and just don't

care. That explains many of the problems we have around the world.

On the other hand we have a closer community here on DU where some people post
information or thoughts and others of us read those and often reply. There's a balance in
this process of everyone doing what pleases them so no thanks are necessary.

[Duppers]

5. Unforgivable 😢

Most Brazilian blazes are manmade, often started illegally by land-grabbers clearing forest for cattle or crops. Fires can easily get out of control during the dry season, burning large swaths of forest to the ground.

The fires drew global criticism of the response from the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly called for development of the region.