Visit to El Pantanal in central-western of Brazil
 
 
 
In November 2002 I have visited  Brazil, especially to see The Pantanal. The Pantanal often referred to as the world’s largest freshwater wetland system, it extends through millions of hectares of central-western Brazil, eastern Bolivia and eastern Paraguay. With its extraordinarily concentrated and diverse flora and fauna, and a landscape spanning a variety of ecological sub-regions, the Pantanal stands as one of the world’s great natural wonders
In Brazil the Pantanal is located in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, 147 miles from the capital city of Campo Grande and 23 miles from the city of Miranda.

The balance of the various ecosystems depends entirely on the water cycles of wet and dry seasons in the region. During the wet season, bays, lakes and streams are formed. When the rain stops, fish, molluscs and shellfish fill these waters, attracting animals like raccoons, caituts and aquatic birds, in search of food. During the dry seasons, the water evaporates, depositing nutrients into the soil.

In the Pantanal there are more than 600 species of birds, as the wood ibis, the blue macaw and the toucan; there are about 263 species of fish, as the caribe, dorado, spotted fish, and small fresh water fish; there are about 50 species of reptiles, as the alligator.

I have posted  various photographs of mammals and birds which I managed to get in front of my camara. My favorite animal was the Blue Macaw. Really very special. Unfortunately you will not find any photos of the Jaguar or the Puma. A good reason to go back another time. 

Click on next to go to - Refugio Ecológico Caiman

Refugio Ecológico Caiman 

I stayed in Refúgio Ecológico Caiman which is located on a cattle farm of approximately 53,000 hectares, at 236 km from Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul State. From the beginning (in 1983) of “Estância Caiman” (Caiman Estate), its owner decided to experiment with a way of developing the Pantanal other than only with cattle.

Refúgio Ecológico Caiman has four comfortable lodges. I stayed partly in Pousada Cordilheira (photo left) and in Pousada Baiazinha (photo right).

Click on next to go to - Hyacinth Macaw

The Hyacinth Macaw Project.

  Réfugio Ecológico Caiman is home base for the blue macaw project.

Threatened with extinction, the hyacinth macaw is outstanding because of its beauty and because it is the largest macaw in the world, approximately one meter from the tip if its bill to its tail and weighting about 1.3 kg.

The project monitors about 3000 individuals distributed over an area of 400.000 hectares in the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sol. The project's main objective is to observe and collect data about the Hyacinth Macaw (Blue Macaw), a bird threatened with extinction, as well as to find new nesting sites and monitor those that already exist

The young Macaws are weak at birth and stay, on average, a little more than three month in the nest, under the attentive care of the parents. 

For the first 45 days, their lives are in danger from cockroaches, ants or other birds, such as toucans and hawks, which raid their nests. For the majority of adult pairs, only one chick survives. At the end of the 45 days they venture forth on their first flights. Family life, however doesn't stop there, the birds are fed by their parents until they reach six months of age.

The Hyacinth Macaw Project involves research, management and conservation of the species. In carrying these out, biologists, veterinarians, field workers, rangers  and university students are in close cooperation.
In the Pantanal, 90% of hyacinth macaw nests are found in a single type of tree, the "manduvi"

The macaws do not begin the nest-hole, but dig out the small cavities left by woodpeckers or by branches breaking off, or even those caused by fungus or left by termites. The hole used for the nest is deep and cosy, and lined with sawdust, which they scrape from the tree itself. The big problem is to find natural cavities, and their is much competition with other species, the Project has developed and installed artificial nests.

The first nests were put in place in 1997, on ranches in the Pantanal.

The occupancy rate was low, but nonetheless contributed to the species' short-term conservation because the red-and-green macaws, toucans, hawks, owls, ducks and vultures also occupied some of them, thus reducing the struggle for natural nests.

The nests are checked periodically and all details are registered.
 

One of the co-workers of the project-team climbs to the nest and takes out the chick for weighing and investigating on possible defects or physical problems
 

The chick is examined completely and it seems that it does not really dislike it.