16.04.2026 - Indoor Meeting : Pantanal Wildlife - South America's Great Wetland

Report by: Steph Plaster

We were yet again treated to an amazing talk by James Lowen and the topic for his presentation was ‘The Pantanal’, an area of incredible natural diversity in South America.
James started the talk by explaining that this area is often referred to as South America’s ‘Serengeti’ as it has a wealth of biodiversity and holds populations of rare species such as the Hyacinth macaw and the striking Jaguar. The Pantanal covers an area of around 55,000 square
miles, mainly in Brazil, with smaller areas in the neighbouring countries of Bolivia and Paraguay.

This area is the World’s largest wetland, said to be ten times larger than the Everglades in Florida, but also includes extensive grasslands and savannah and areas of tropical forest. It is home to around 500 species of bird, 135 species of mammal, 80 species of reptile, 50 species of amphibians, 325 species of fish and at least 1700 species of plants - although there could be double this figure. As for invertebrates - no one really knows according to James.
Although this area is technically a wetland it does still have drier seasons, July to September in the northern part and September to December in the south, and these are the best times to view the wildlife. Then the area is more accessible by truck, and the dwindling waters mean that all the wildlife, especially birds and fish, are concentrated in smaller areas. In the wet season the extensive river networks burst their banks and flood the region, creating massive swampy areas, and the forests become flooded. Many unique species are found here such as the South American Tapir and water-loving Capybaras - the largest rodent in the World. There are also two species of Caiman, Swamp turtles, thirteen species of Heron and Egret, and many hundreds of species of Butterfly - a wealth of biodiversity which can be viewed at close range if you visit on a guided tour such as run by our friends at Oriole Birding. It is possible to get really good views of the wildlife simply from your vehicle, although there are many high viewing platforms located across the region too. There are numerous lodges where you can stay and see Giant cow birds, Purplish jays, Hummingbirds and Cardinals without even leaving your hotel! There are also ‘floating’ hotels, and many parts of the Pantanal can be accessed by truck or boat with assistance from the local guides.
The species of bird found here are really amazing and James reeled off several names of birds I’ve never heard of before including, for example, Black-throated mango, Collared aracari and Red-legged Seriema! Other species James described were Jabiru stork, Snowy egret, Green ibis, Roseate spoonbill, Anhinga or Snake bird as it’s known, Social flycatcher, Black-crowned night heron, Wood stork, Limpkin - a large wading bird a bit like a heron. With regard to mammals and reptiles, there are several iconic species that inhabit the flooded zones including two-metre long Caiman, Tapirs, Rococo toads, Crab-eating foxes, Giant Anteaters, Marsh deer,
and Yellow anacondas. 
The second part of the talk focused on the drier grassland or savannah type areas within the Pantanal. Here it’s best to go on a vehicle safari which can take you around the area in relative comfort, and from which you can spot Maned wolves - a long-legged fox-type canid that is neither fox nor wolf but a species of its own! There are many termite mounds and these provide food for Giant anteater and Armadillos. Also found in the savannah is the Coati,  another unusual animal native to South America, plus there are lots of lizards and snakes. Several species of birds feed on reptiles including Red-legged and Black-legged Seriemas and Greater rheas - the largest bird in South America. The Southern Screamer is a strange bird which has very loud call that can travel for miles, and one of James’s favourite birds from the region is the Chaco chachalaca, a weird fruit and leaf eating bird. All these species were brilliantly illustrated by James as he is a fantastic photographer and has managed to capture these creatures on camera whilst visiting the region.
There are Black howler monkeys and the Hooded or Azara’s capuchin found in the forested regions, plus two species of wild boar-like Peccaries, which can be dangerous according to James. Other species noted and illustrated were the Tinamou bird, Great poto - a bit like a
nightjar, and Toco toucans which like to eat the eggs of the Hyacinth macaw - around 50% of their eggs are lost in this way said James! But there is a twist in this relationship as the macaws nest in holes in Manduvi trees which spread because the Toco’s eat the fruit and distribute the seeds. Another species endemic to the region is the Mato Grosso antbird - a small, insectivorous passerine.
We saw images of other birds including Savannah hawks, which feed on rodents and follow fires to pick off casualties, Scale doves and Crane hawks, plus many parrot species including the endangered Hyacinth macaw which is luckily now protected in the Pantanal. There are many incentives in place for the local people to want to protect and preserve this species. 
James showed plenty of images showing people exploring the region by boat and from this vantage point it’s pretty easy to see the wildlife around you - five species of Kingfisher can be ticked-off your list. Other birds found within the river systems include Sun bittern, Black
collared hawks, Great black hawks and many animals can also be seen.
The Giant otter is the World’s largest species, up to around two metres in length and is also pretty fierce according to James, they will tackle quite large prey including Anacondas! Talking of snakes, James did have an image of an Anaconda attacking a Caiman by trying to constrict it as this is the method they use to kill their prey. Other species seen on or around the numerous sandbars are Skimmers and Yellow-billed terns which look a bit like a large Little tern. But the main attraction for a lot of visitors to the region are, of course, the Jaguars that live here. This species and it’s prey species are now protected and can be seen regularly in  many areas, including along the river banks. This once shy creature is now easy to spot and James had some amazing images of this beautiful animal. It also features on the cover of his latest book, ‘Pantanal Wildlife’ - copies of which were available to buy on the night. 
It’s a real shame if you missed his presentation as the images were superb and we cannot fully explain in a brief meeting report just how great this talk was and how we were able to see the fantastic species of bird and mammals found in this amazing region. Many thanks to James for such an informative and engaging presentation.