How a Fire Changed the World’s Largest Wetland

Brazil’s Pantanal is the world’s largest tropical wetland, home to an impressive concentration of wildlife like hyacinth macaws, giant otters, piranhas and jaguars. And last year, the wetland was on fire. Our host Arielle Duhaime-Ross travels to the region to see firsthand how last year’s megafires changed this unique ecosystem, and meet the scientists who have taken drastic measures to help it heal. Along the way she meets some of the Pantanal’s rare (and adorable) wildlife.

MORE:

• Recent megafires have devastated a massive wetland in Brazil. VICE News Tonight surveys the damage and meets people trying to save endangered species.
• The Pantanal in Brazil is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its unique biodiversity. And it’s on fire. 
• California relies on incarcerated women to fight wildfires. Then it abandons them.  
• The biggest environmental disaster in U.S. history, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, never really ended. 
• These scientists are rebuilding Singapore’s coral reefs with Legos. 

CREDITS: 

Special thanks to the folks at SESC Pantanal—Cristina Cuiabalia, Gabriela Schuck and Alesandro de Amorim. And additional thanks to Agnes Walton, Dave Mayers, Nicole Huber, Sam Donnenburg, and Albert Berti.

This episode was reported by Arielle Duhaime-Ross and produced by Sophie Kazis.

VICE News Reports is produced by Jesse Alejandro Cottrell, Jen Kinney, Janice Llamoca and Julia Nutter. Our senior producers are Ashley Cleek and Adizah Eghan. Our associate producers are Sam Eagan, Sophie Kazis, and Adreanna Rodriguez. Sound Design and music composition by Steve Bone and Kyle Murdock.

Our executive Producer and VP of VICE Audio is Kate Osborn. Janet Lee is Senior Production Manager for VICE Audio. Production coordination by Steph Brown. Fact Checking by Nicole Pasulka.

Episode art by our host, Arielle Duhaime-Ross.