Forest fires devastate Brazil's Pantanal tropical wetlands

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A firefighter tries to put out a forest fire in the Brazilian jungleImage source, EPA
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A firefighter tries to put out a forest fire in Porto Jofre, Mato Grosso state, Brazil

There have been more than 15,000 fires in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands so far this year, causing widespread devastation. That is triple the number recorded in the same period in 2019, according to data collected by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (Inpe).

A satellite map published by Inpe, external shows the fires burning in the Pantanal, collected using satellites that measure blazes larger than 30m-long by 1m-wide.

This article contains images some people may find upsetting.

An aerial view showing a burnt and barren view of a forestImage source, Shutterstock
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A drone image of the devastation caused by the fires in the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso

The wetlands is one of the world's most bio-diverse areas.

A deer looks startled in the undergrowth as it's surrounded by smokeImage source, EPA
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A deer tries to escape a fire in the Pantanal

In total 15,756 fires have been detected in the region so far this year, compared with 5,109 recorded in the same period last year.

A forest fire in the PantanalImage source, Reuters
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Smoke rises into the air as trees burn amongst vegetation in the Pantanal

Brazil's National Centre for the Prevention of Forest Fires (Prevfogo) calculates that 2.9m hectares of the Pantanal have burned so far in 2020.

A state of emergency has been declared in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso.

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A drone shows scorched earth next to a riverImage source, EPA
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A drone shows a river in an area devastated by forest fires

Environment Minister Ricardo Salles says the fires have spread to "gigantic proportions".

Nevertheless, President Jair Bolsonaro said on Wednesday that the criticism levelled against his government over the fires in the Pantanal and also in the Amazon region had been "disproportionate".

A jaguar wades in waterImage source, EPA
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A jaguar crosses a river near Porto Jofre, Mato Grosso state

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The basin, which thrives off annual flooding following torrential rains, is home to jaguars, piranhas, capuchin monkeys, green anacondas and thousands of plant species.

Two jaguars climb an embankmentImage source, EPA
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A number of jaguars fleeing the fires are moving towards one corner of the Encontro das Aguas State Park

Forest fires often occur naturally in the dry season in Brazil but they are also deliberately started by ranchers trying to clear land for cattle.

An aerial view of a burnt out building in the middle of a burnt forestImage source, Shutterstock
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A drone image shows a burnt out building in the middle of the forest

Experts say it is impossible to calculate yet how many animals have been killed by the fires, but losses are feared to be huge.

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A caiman lies dead on the forest floorImage source, EPA
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A caiman killed by fire

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An aerial view of smoke over the PantanalImage source, EPA
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Smoke fills the air in the Pantanal

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A coati's foot is seen badly burnt with a medical tube going into itImage source, EPA
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A veterinarian helps a coati with fire burns on its legs in Pocone, Mato Grosso state

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An empty burnt out turtle shellImage source, EPA
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A burnt-out turtle shell

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A deer is fed with a bottleImage source, EPA
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Veterinarians feed a deer affected by the blazes

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