Pantanal, Brazil

Wildlife of the Pantanal
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  • Entrance to the Pantanal

    Entrance to the Pantanal

    This is the famous Trans Pantanal Highway

  • The scenic Trans Pantanal Highway.

    The scenic Trans Pantanal Highway.

    Not exactly 4 lanes, divided.

  • High and Dry

    High and Dry

    Wattled Jacana forages, using a Capybara as a perch.

  • BFFs

    BFFs

    Hyacinth Macaws preen each other in the early morning light.

  • On the hunt

    On the hunt

    Old scarred Jaguar prowling the bank of the Cuiaba River for prey.

  • What are YOU looking at?

    What are YOU looking at?

    Giant River Otter checks out his family after a dust bath.

  • Lower and to the Left

    Lower and to the Left

    Southern Caracara grooms ticks off of a Capybara.

  • That's the Spot!

    That's the Spot!

    Southern Caracara grooms ticks off of a Capybara. The Capybara rolled over to present his belly to the bird.

  • Sneaking up on three Capybaras

    Sneaking up on three Capybaras

    A male Jaguar slinks up the beach after spotting three Capybaras. They saw him, snored in alarm, and one dove into the river. Spotted (ha!), the Jaguar gave up and slipped away into the brush.

  • Evening Stroll

    Evening Stroll

    We found this Red-footed Tortoise, Chelonoidis carbonaria, next to a fence one evening when we stopped to open a gate. The annular rings on her shell are not worn smooth, and suggest that she was less than 10 years old.

  • Stalking the riverbank

    Stalking the riverbank

    We found this female jaguar prowling the thick brush of the riverbank at dusk and followed her for 30 minutes, by which time it got quite dark.

  • Got one!

    Got one!

    The jaguar had a caiman by the back of the neck; the caiman was clearly incapacitated, and barely struggled.

  • A big dinner

    A big dinner

    It was now so dark that I could only see the white underside of the caiman with my naked eye, but that was enough to know what was going on. The jaguar blended into the dark background and I only saw detail in the images later.

  • Getting a grip

    Getting a grip

    Once the caiman was on shore, the Jaguar adjusted her grip. Check out those claws!

  • Killing bite

    Killing bite

    The Jaguar shifted her grip form the back of the caiman's neck to its throat.

  • Moving to a dry dining area with more privacy

    Moving to a dry dining area with more privacy

    The Jaguar got a good grip and dragged the poor caiman out of sight into the thick brush.

  • The odd couple

    The odd couple

    Black Howler Monkeys; only the male is black, while the female and juveniles are light brown to buff-colored.

  • Searching

    Searching

    This Giant River Otter lost his pack and was swimming back and forth frantically, calling for them.

  • Sleeping off a big meal.

    Sleeping off a big meal.

    We watched him sleep and stretch and turn for an hour and 15 minutes.

  • Sleeping it off

    Sleeping it off

    This Jaguar was sleeping off a big meal on the bank of the river.

  • Anteater

    Anteater

    This Giant Anteater was wandering the grounds of our lodge, feeding in anthills, when we returned from road cruising for birds and critters after dark one night.

  • Midnight snack

    Midnight snack

    This Giant Anteater is feeding. Note the dirt on his formidable claws and the many ants on his nose and feet.

  • Cooling Off

    Cooling Off

    A tapir, one of a pair, came out of the forest and entered the weed-choked pond at twilight to cool off.

  • Cooling Off

    Cooling Off

    A pair of tapirs came out of the forest and entered the weed-choked pond at twilight to cool off.

  • Hyacinth Macaws

    Hyacinth Macaws

    Heading out to forage.

  • Lineated Woodpecker

    Lineated Woodpecker

    He liked that notch on the side of the palm tree; it seemed to give him a good grip and he kept returning to it.

  • Getting out of bed

    Getting out of bed

    Lineated Woodpecker in the early morning sun

  • Abbott and Costello Moment

    Abbott and Costello Moment

    "What's that little woodpecker's name?" "Yes." "What's its name?" "The Little Woodpecker." "That's what I'm asking YOU!" "No, that's its name, the Little Woodpecker."

  • Central Sipo Snake swimming in the river.

    Central Sipo Snake swimming in the river.

    Chironius quadricarinatus

  • Central Sipo Snake

    Central Sipo Snake

    Chironius quadricarinatus

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    Entrance to the Pantanal
    The scenic Trans Pantanal Highway.