2023-12-05 The Pantanal: A Wondrous Wetland, by David Hoar

The word Pantanal is derived from the Portuguese for swamp or bog. This is the world’s largest Tropical Wetland with more than a thousand streams of water entering from both the Andes and the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna). This seasonal flood plain is home to over 4700 plant and animal species including at least 463 bird species. The seasonality of the flooding contributes to the remarkable diversity as residents must be able to tolerate The Wet and survive The Dry, and it is the Paraguay River that is pivotal as the control valve for the region.

We went to the Pantanal to see its unique wildlife and, in particular, the Jaguar, the largest cat in the area. The Pantanal has its own “Big Five” of which the Jaguar is number one. In the past it has been an elusive and difficult animal to see and photograph but through the efforts of visionary people and time, some of these cats have learned to tolerate human presence and today sightings are common. To round out the “Big Five” you include the Giant Anteater, Tapir, Giant River Otter, and Marsh Deer, (all of which we saw), but for us the Hyacinth Macaw made the top list (40″ “tall”). Sought by the pet trade ($5,000-$40,000), their numbers suffered severely; however, today recovery programs have made them common residents of the regions around Eco-lodges.

We will share some of our experiences in 5 different Eco-lodges, some in the forested north and others in the more open southern plains where cattle ranching is still an important way of life. Caiman Lodge in the south has developed a workable relationship run by Oncafari that has created a fully functional cooperation between ranchers, Jaguars, and Ecotourism. Such projects demonstrate how all can win, and the Jaguar can have a future.

David Hoar is a retired Molecular Geneticist who served on the faculties of the University of Toronto, University of Calgary, and University of British Columbia during his working career as a research scientist, teacher, and consultant.

Since retirement in 1991 until 2017, David and wife Noreen spent their summers exploring the B.C. and Alaska Coasts by boat. Now they are travelling further afield, enjoying our natural world and particularly, the birds. At home in Tsawwassen, they are active members of the Delta Naturalists Casual Birding Group.

David and Noreen share their trip to the world’s largest Tropical Wetland, in search of unique wildlife including the Jaguar, the Giant Anteater, the Tapir, the Giant River Otter and Marsh Deer.