Fishing guide Amilton Brandao is witnessing a drastic change in the landscape of Brazil’s Mato Grosso do Sul state, home to the Pantanal wetlands. The area, which was once flooded land, is now dried to a crisp and ravaged by fires. Brandao describes it as a desert, with fire engulfing everything in sight. He is helping farmer Cleiton Jose save his cattle, which are at risk of being surrounded and burned to death by the approaching flames.
The ranch where the cattle are stuck is accessible by boat, but the area they need to move them to can only be reached by horse due to the nature of the wetlands. Jose and Brandao are working together to ensure the cattle have a better chance of survival, moving them to the other side of the bay away from the encroaching fire.
Satellite data from Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research shows a 980% increase in fires in the Pantanal compared to the same period last year, raising alarm as the region enters the peak season for wildfires. Brandao laments the destruction of such a unique and diverse ecosystem, describing the situation as a great loss of life and beauty.
He points to Rio Grande do Sul, which has faced devastating flooding, as a sign of the turmoil facing the country. The destruction of the Pantanal wetlands is a blow to both the environment and
