The Pantanal wetlands are still on fire, and, tragically, the fires are killing animals as they rage on.
What Are The Pantanal Wetlands?
The Pantanal wetlands is a wetlands ecosystem; it is located in South America.
The Pantanal wetlands are found within several countries in South America, including - Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay.
This wetlands ecosystem is the world's largest wetlands.
The Pantanal wetlands is also a beautiful world heritage site. It is home to some of the world's most beautiful and unique animals, including - Jaguars, Reptiles and Giant Anteaters.
The Pantanal Wetlands On Fire
Sadly though, these beautiful animals are at risk from the current fires that are happening within the Pantanal wetlands. It has been reported that animals like Jaguars and Reptiles are being killed because of the ongoing fires. Which means that the fires are not just destroying the wetlands ecosystem, but they are also destroying the animals that live within the Pantanal wetlands.
The fires in the Pantanal wetlands this year were reported in July. It seems that the fires have been happening all year within this beautiful ecosystem - it was reported that there was a 201% increase in fires in the Pantanal wetlands from the 1st of January to the 23rd of July this year. The fires this year in the Pantanal wetlands have been the worst ever on record in this ecosystem.
Recently it has been reported that the Pantanal wetlands have been engulfed in flames. The fires seem to be taking a devastating toll on wildlife and the Pantanal wetlands ecosystem. Sadly, there are reports and images of animals being killed by the fires.
It has also been reported that very few animals are surviving these fires. This means the vast majority of animals are being killed where the Pantanal wetland fires are happening.
The animals are sadly burnt by the fires, others die or are affected by the smoke from the fires. The animals who survive, often have injuries so severe that they are not making it - many animals sadly die or they are euthanized because of the fires.
Sadly, animals often cannot escape the fires and are burnt to death - like this Caiman reptile here. The Caiman reptile belongs to the animal family, known as the Alligatoridae. The Alligatoridae family consists of two types of species of animals - Alligators and Caimans.
Animals like Caimans are probably killed in the fires because of the speed of the fires. The animals have nowhere else to go and seek shelter from the fires. So, sadly, the animals caught up in these fires mostly don't stand a chance.
Other animals living in the Pantanal wetlands are being affected too. For example, Jaguars are going thirsty, hungry and having their paws burnt by walking on the burnt-out land. There have also been reports that a Jaguar sanctuary is threatened because of the fires.
The latest fires in the Pantanal wetlands are concerning, because of how they are affecting the wildlife there - including Jaguars. Today, Jaguars are classed as a 'near-threatened' species; this means that Jaguars are nearly threatened with extinction, so Jaguars are already in a vulnerable position. What is concerning about the recent fires is that the Pantanal wetlands are home to the world's largest Jaguar population, so, these fires could damage the Jaguar population.
What is also concerning for the Jaguar population, is that there are also fires happening within the nearby Amazon rainforest. The Amazon rainforest is South of the Pantanal wetlands.
The Amazon rainforest is also home to Jaguars. So, Jaguars are facing two big threats right now - fires within the Amazon rainforest and fires within the Pantanal wetlands.
Why Are The Fires Happening?
The fires are happening because they seem to have been started deliberately by people.
What is also making these fires so bad this year, is the drought the Pantanal wetlands are going through. Another thing that makes these fires bad are the winds that are carrying these fires. A combination of these things is resulting in the Pantanal wetlands going up in flames.
Sadly, it's thought that 200 Jaguars have died, been injured or affected because of these fires.
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