While we were weighed down by the corona crisis, an unprecedented amount of animals, including birds, primates and jaguars, died in the largest tropical wetland in the world.

In Brazil, enormous fires regularly rage not only in the Amazon rainforest, but also in the Pantanal – the largest tropical wetland in the world – last year. The area was even ravaged by the largest fires ever. Now, a year later, researchers are taking stock. And it shows that the immense fires that raged in the Brazilian wetland cost the lives of almost 17 million (!) vertebrates.

To burn

It was rough last year. While the rest of the world had something else on their mind, huge areas of the Pantanal were ablaze between January and November 2020. In September alone, 8106 fires were counted in the Pantanal: 35 percent more than in the record month of August 2005, when 5993 fires were counted. The disastrous fires of 2020 caused massive damage to the otherwise beautiful tropical wetland.

View over the Pantanal wetland after the forest fire. Note the smoke covering the entire area. Image: CENAP-ICMBio

Although there are generally fewer fires in the Pantanal than in the Amazon rainforest, their consequences are no less severe. Because this is a forest savanna and wetland area in the dry season, the fires were even bigger: just one fire, started on just 9 farms, burned 141,000 hectares. In total, 3.4 million hectares were burned in the Pantanal in 2020: an area comparable to the size of the whole of the Netherlands.

Scientists were sure that these fires must have had far-reaching consequences. But what exactly was that catastrophic impact? In a new study, the researchers decided to expose the bitter truth and chart the number of animals killed in the wildfires.

Study

In the immediate aftermath of the fires, the researchers counted the carcasses scattered in several burned areas. In total they made their way through an area of ​​almost 115 kilometers in size. The researchers found 302 carcasses here. In most cases, they even managed to identify the exact species. They then scaled up the numbers to get a good idea of ​​how many animals in total died during the devastating fires in the Pantanal.

Scientist examining a deceased animal. Image: CENAP-ICMBio

These are significant numbers, the researchers write. Because the results show that about 17 million vertebrates died during the fires. This concerns both 13,206,700 to 18,811,300 small vertebrates – such as lizards, birds and rodents – as well as 691,090 to 1,196,570 medium to large vertebrates. In that case, think of ungulates and primates, among other things. The researchers also assume that jaguars, pumas and tapirs were also unable to escape the fires.

Loss of habitat

While it’s a shame that so many innocent animals have died directly from the wildfires, the researchers warn that their estimate may not even reflect the full impact. The team states that the fires also led to habitat loss. And this too may have claimed many animal lives.

Overall, the study shows how extremely destructive wildfires can be. Not only is unique area lost, but the countless species that call the Pantanal their home were also endangered. According to the researchers, the study therefore emphasizes that we should do everything we can to prevent future disastrous disasters.