The Wild South: Exploring Pantanal

In pursuit of jaguars, macaws and caimans and other colourful residents of the world’s largest freshwater wetland.

- Praveen Siddannavar

Pantanal is located in the upper Paraguay River basin and stands as the world’s largest wetland; it was established as a World Heritage Site in 2000. The Amazon Rainforest has been the centre of attraction for years, however, when it comes to wildlife viewing in its natural environment, Pantanal easily tops the list of world’s 5 best destinations. The area has excellent biodiversity of wildlife on the planet, with over 600 bird species, 80 mammals, 50 reptiles and 250 species of fish.

My recent visit to Pantanal, after about 5 years since I first went to the sprawling marshes, was a greatly enjoyable one as I travelled with a group of friends. Typically, mid-June until early October is dry season with reduced water levels, that is, the best time for wildlife viewing, especially the jaguars. Along with a local tour company, I had created such an itinerary that gave ample opportunity to cover a wide range of wildlife including various bird species, mammals, reptiles, endemic nocturnal animals and of course the jaguars.

As we landed in Cuiaba after flying over 25 hours in 3 different planes, I heard from my guide that the weather conditions at our first destination Chapada do Guimarães weren’t great due to the cold front. Dense fog and mist all over had made it almost impossible for outdoor activities. Cuiaba is the capital of Mato Grosso state and is home to the Chapada dos Guimarães National Park just about 65 km away by road.

Considering the adverse weather conditions, we decided to go around the Cuiaba to spot animals and birds. Our first encounter was with a tiny primate known as the Blacked Tailed Marmoset that belongs to the species of New World Monkey. These monkeys are diurnal and arboreal using their claws to climb trees. They mainly feed on tree sap and occasionally insects and bird eggs.