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Photo by Jan Fleischman
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The Pantanal is the world’s largest fresh water wetland covering an area 80% the size of Minnesota. Ecologically, it has been significantly degraded in the last 15 years from siltation of the rivers from deforestation of surrounding dry forest highlands, over-fertilization and draining for agriculture. Uncontrolled commercial fishing is also a threat.
As of 1998, only 2% of the Brazilian Pantanal was protected. The state of Mato Grosso has just designated a new state park. This park is 272,500 acres of ecologically intact habitat with 29% of it protecting a network of navigable, wild rivers. The park’s creation is a great step toward keeping this natural treasure intact. With plans for possible dams and canals that would alter this largely inaccessible area, creating large protected areas is imperative to its survival.
The Brazilian government invited Dr. Charles Munn and biologists from the conservation group BioBrasil to assist in planning the implementation, protection and management of the park. Dave Cruz, Minnesota Zoo’s World of Birds Show Supervisor participated in initial surveys of the park’s wildlife. Dave, along with biologist Carolina Ribas, logged over 100 hours of surveys within the park’s river systems, looking for tracks and signs left by the area’s generous jaguar population as well as documenting the return of an endangered species, the giant otter.
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Photo by Jan Fleischman
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They took GPS readings of jaguar sign and otter den locations as they traveled the rivers. These surveys are part of an ongoing project designed to protect the area’s wildlife. Knowing the otter den locations will help protect them through anti-poaching patrols. The jaguar population may present an opportunity to undertake the least invasive behavioral research ever for this species. Photo documentation is already under way and identification of individual cats has been possible through high-powered lens photography. Poaching is one of the greatest threats to the jaguar and the increased attention has made poaching much more difficult.
Dave also spent time discussing the importance of the Pantanal with community members. An area so rich in flora and fauna presents opportunities and challenges to locals. Cruz discussed the future with land-holders, and with continued community outreach and support from Brazilian conservation organizations, the future looks bright. With conservation groups, field biologists, Minnesota Zoo naturalists and Brazilian park officials in the area, the wildlife of the Pantanal is being protected like never before. The Minnesota Zoo has shown great leadership as a conservation organization by getting involved in this project whose conservation impact should last indefinitely.
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