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The Brazilian Pantanal - Mato Grosso, Brazil

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The Brazilian Pantanal .png

Local 'vaqueros' load cargo from horseback and place it into rivers to cross the Paraguay river. During the wet season, treks are impossible to make in much of the wetlands, therefore horses and canoes are used.

During the wet season, all roads into the Pantanal are flooded, and sealed off. Many destinations can only be reached by flying, or days of trekking.

The size of the Pantanal is ten times that of the Floridian everglades, and is 3% of world wetlands.

Despite its global significance, less than 5% of Pantanal is protected.

Flying overhead the Pantanal, a group of cattle is huddle to one of the spots of remaining land in a flooded area.

Cattle raising and agriculture is the number one reason for deforestation of the Pantanal.

Although less popular than the Amazon rainforest, the Pantanal has the highest concentration of wildlife in the south American continent.

Two Jabiru mates lay in their next at dusk. The Jabiru (known locally as a "Tuiuiu") is the official mascot of the Pantanal. The name comes from the Guaraní language meaning “Swollen neck". It can be found nearly everywhere in south America with the exception of the Andes.

The hyacinth macaw is the largest flying parrot species. Here, two hyacinth macaws gaze down through the trees.

Cowboys patrol areas for illegal cattle raising, which is frequent due to high profitability and low fines from the government.

Brazil is the worlds largest exporter for beef. The government supports the industry with low interests for agriculture and other settlements supporting deforestation.

Bruno sips coffe at the lookout farm (Fazenda) his family owns, before setting out for daily work. Bruno is only 20, but assumes that he will get married soon and take over his familys business.

Apart from air travel, Giant trucks also bring cargo through the wetlands. In doing so, any wildlife in its way becomes roadkill, such as this Caiman.

Chilo has been working as a Vaquero (Cowboy) all his life. He spends most of his days in isolation, patroling isolated parts of the Pantanal for poaching and illegal cattle raising.
He visits the local village Poconé once every 3-4 months.

For longer trips, Vaqueros create fortresses to store food and dried meat while patrolling the Pantanal, Here, one of the cowboys cooks up dried meat and farofa (Yuca Flour) for food during one of the heavier trips.

Dried Meat, Farofa, and oil are the main food supplies stored in the fortresses as emergency supplies.

Under the intense heat, workers use Tereré to keep caffeinated and cool throughout the day. Tereré is a yerba mate from Paraguay that is iced or used as a cold beverage.

A man sits behind political propoganda in a bar. Cuiabá, Brazil.

Political cartoons mention the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff and the economic crisis.

A Tortoise walks freely among children observing an old uncleaned tank in Cuiabá's local aquariam. The lack of water and freewalking of the animal demonstrates the lack of funding and organization in community funds.

The lack of funding in the municipality leaves public parks vandilized, and many animals neglected for the care and hygeine they need.

Cuibabá is often described as living in a hot frying pan.

Deivison walks on one of the main streets of the highway in Cuiaba, followed by the eyes of graffiti that run through the city.

Nilson (Left) speaks with his boss, an immigrant to Brazil from Lebanon. Many immigrants ventured to Brazils interier during the gold rush to escape political distress.

ERIN SKOCZYLAS © 2023

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