Race to rescue animals as Brazilian wetlands burn

Aerial view of cattle pictured grazing on burnt vegetation at the wetlands of Pantanal, near Transpantaneira park road in Mato Grosso state, Brazil. The Pantanal, the world's biggest tropical wetlands, is being devastated by record wildfires which are destroying vast areas of vegetation and threatening wildlife.

Fires raging in the Pantanal, the biggest tropical wetlands on Earth, are threatening a nature reserve known as the home to the world's largest jaguar population. Above, a jaguar crouches on an area recently scorched by wildfires at the Encontro das Aguas park.

An injured adult male jaguar sits on the bank of a river at the Encontros das Aguas Park, in the Porto Jofre region of the Pantanal.

An inmate fills his water bag in a lake to fight a wildfire alongside Mato Grosso State firefighters in the wetlands of the Pantanal. Wetlands are regions that are largely covered in water part or all of the year. The Pantanal, which is typically 80-percent underwater in wet season, is also known for its wealth of wildlife.

The annual rains, which start in October, bring huge numbers of fish into the floodplain, drawing numerous bird species and, in turn, predators going up the food chain. Above, a Mato Grosso State firefighter removes a turtle from a fire area in the wetlands.

An Ariranha giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) calf is fed at the Animal Rescue Center of Pantanal wetlands, in Mato Grosso state. The Pantanal is having its worst drought in 47 years.Rainfall plunged by half for the period from January to May, usually the height of rainy season. Researchers are still studying the factors driving the drought.

Climate change is a top suspect. Studies show deforestation in the Amazon is having an impact on rainfall in other regions by shrinking the rainforest's so-called "flying rivers": clouds of mist that dump water across a large swathe of South America.The fires are also being driven by the conversion of land for agricultural use and the introduction of non-native plant species more susceptible to fire. Above, buffalos are seen on a lake at the wetlands of the Pantanal.

A woman takes a picture of a Gaviao Carcara, scientific name Caracara Plancus) at Mato Grosso Pantanal Hotel in the wetlands of Pantanal.

A volunteer works to douse a fire on Transpantaneira road in the Pantanal wetlands near Pocone, Mato Grosso state, Brazil. The number of fires in Brazil's Pantanal, the world's biggest tropical wetlands, has more than doubled in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period last year, according to data released by a state institute.

Representantives of farmers, NGO's and local government are seen awaiting the beginning of a meeting with politicians to talk about the record fires during the dry season at the wetlands of the Pantanal.

Farm workers and Mato Grosso State firefighters open a line of defense to fight a fire in the wetlands.

A Giant otter pup (known as Ariranha in Brazil, scientific name Pteronura brasiliensis) receives treatment from a veterinarian at the Animal Rescue Center in the wetlands.

An estimated 23,500 square kilometers, more than 10 percent of the Pantanal, have gone up in smoke since January. There have been a record-shattering 14,764 fires in the Brazilian Pantanal this year, according to satellite data from Brazil's National Space Research Institute (INPE) - already an annual record, and increase of 214 percent from the same period last year. Above, farmers wait for the beginning of a meeting with politicians to talk about the record fires during the dry season at the wetlands.

Disruptions to the water cycle threaten its delicate ecosystem, whose famous wildlife includes the endangered hyacinth macaw and shrinking population of jaguars.

The Pantanal is one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, with nearly 1,300 animal species and more than 3,500 plant species, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Above, buffalos are guided by cowboys at the wetlands of the Pantanal, Transpantaneira park road in Mato Grosso state, Brazil.

A Mato Grosso State firefighter removes a snake from a fire spot at the wetlands.

A deer (called in Brazil as Veado) receives treatment at the Animal Rescue Center at the wetland of Pantanal.