Last year the extensive wildfires in the Pantanal, the world's largest wetland in South America, made the news. A new study in
Scientific Reports estiamtes that a shocking 17 million veterbrates were killed by the fires, which burned around 30% of the biome or about 4.5 million hectares. The estimate is likely an undercount since many animals died underground or may have died later to due to their injuries. Scientists examining the damage, found jaguars that could not walk on their burnt paws, and tapirs with red patches of scorched skin. Dead crocodiles littered the ground, unable to run away fast enough to escape the flames. The results were not unexpected by experts who said the large number testifies to the rich biodiversity of the region. Survey teams walked transacts close to the fires, enduring heat, smoke, and flames to identify 300 different specie or genus. Scientists are not sure how the fires will affect the Pantanal in the long run.
Fires again hit the Pantanal this year during only about 10% of the area, but some of that coincides with areas burned in 2020, Cumulative impacts will be severe. Once again, climate change shows it's devastating effects on Earth's creatures.
 |
| Panthera onca |