Pantanal Nature - The life in the Pantanal - Bios

Pantanal Tour from Cuiabá - Northern Pantanal

2012-01-14T08:08:00.000-08:00

Our tours are available year around and the starting point for the tours is Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal. The wildlife in the area is visible even in the rainy season, but this year, the water level of ckeeks around the lodge we work in... is at its lowest, so making more opportunities of seeing animals on the edge of the rivers.
The common animals seeing on our tours are:
Black-howler Money, Capuchin Monkey, Capybara, Iguana, Caiman, Deer, hundreds of birds species, Crab-eating Foxe, Crab-eating Raccoon, Tapir, Ocelot, Agouti, Red-fooded Tortoise and others.

To see Jaguars, the Porto Jofre area is the best location on earth, at P. Jaguar Camp has all the equipments and human resorces for your complete Jaguar Photo Safaris, this is only available from JUN-NOV. Our experience is unique, developed by several years of showing jaguars to the visitors and helping conservation by colleting data donate it to reputable organization focused in saving wildlife, the data base information is also shared with our visitors and thus giving a big plus for your nature experiences. We are always in a stage of learning and learning, non stop learning.
http://www.pantanalnature.com.br/ A. Lara. Jan 2012

2011-12-31T14:22:00.000-08:00

This is for those who want to learn more about jaguars and why is important to prserve it, enjoy reading it.

12th Sancuary Wildlife Award - Respect People

2011-12-15T01:39:00.000-08:00

Pantanal Map - Porto Jofre

2011-12-13T19:56:00.000-08:00

Pantanal Map of the most jaguar density in the world

There many places in the Pantanal to see Jaguars, but the best area for both Jaguars and Giant Otter and a dream of many visitors, researcher, photographers, film makers and locals. This map will help you to know the rivers and creeks of the area. This is where is a really fragille place and has to be preserved. Enjoy your Jaguar Safari !

Hibernating Caiman - Pantanal (transpantaneira road)

2011-12-04T15:31:00.001-08:00

Hibernation can actually cause more harm than good if not done properly. Firstly, no reptile should be allowed to hibernate if it is not in top condition and health, as the stresses of the process can cause serious illness and even death. These caimans here have no choice, but they know how to protect themselves from any harm. If it doesn’t rain within few days, those caimans will be running out of moisture making hibernation difficult. (location – Tordas) km 16 of Transpantaneira road. DEC 3 2011 A. Lara.

Pantanal Jaguar Camp - Jaguar Operation Base at Porto Jofre

2011-11-13T22:07:00.000-08:00

Pantanal Jaguar Camp - Jaguar Operation at Porto Jofre .

The P. Jaguar Camp faces to the river and has a dining room and a kitchen with e expert cooks. Both dining room and tents are screened-in, thereby providing fresh air and protection from mosquitoes. Each tent is equipped with a private bath and shower as well as a fan, confortable twin beds,shelf, electricity (110v) is only at night, for charging cameras and laptops.

The food at Jaguar Camp is fresh, authentic and excellent! Generally speaking, the Jaguar Camp provide a mixture of local and international cuisine. The selection of fruits, vegetables, juices provide a fresh flair unmatched in more temperate climates. Although menu choices are limited at your pic-nic lunch that is served on boat while looking for jaguars. Vegetarian or other common dietary preferences can be provided if sufficient notice is given.

At the restaurant and or tent,you can get wi-fi connection, no fees are charged.

This is the kind of beds we have inside the tents.

All our boats at Porto Jofre have got conopies to protect you from the sun in the middle of the day.

Jaguar are seen nearly every day and some times more than one, our record is 8 individual jaguars in one day.

For more informations on jaguars and logistics , don't hesitate to contact us at info@pantanalnature.com.br

RENCONTRES AVEC LES JAGUAR DU PANTANAL ( Jaguar Camp ) Porto Jofre

2011-03-10T18:23:00.000-08:00

RENCONTRES AVEC LES JAGUAR DU PANTANAL
Ce voyage itinérant est prévu pour un maximum de 6 personnes. L a faune dans la région de Porto Jofre est fantastique et les chances de débusquer des impressionnants et insaisissables jaguars sont grandes. Pendant que vous pisterez les jaguars, vous pourrez aussi admirer de nombreux animaux de la région comme des singes, des loutres géantes, et beaucoup d’espèces d’oiseaux, tout cela de vos bateaux spéciaux. Nos grands connaisseurs du Pantanal assurent que les visiteurs découvriront les plus beaux endroits pour apprécier au mieux cet environnement sauvage et obtenir le plus de chances possible de côtoyer de près les jaguars. Tous les visiteurs qui ont passé au moins 3 nuits ou plus sur le camp du Jaguar Tour ont pu admirer un jaguar en 2010. Nous observons en moyenne 1,2 jaguar par jour durant vos séjours. Bien évidemment, nous ne pouvons vous offrir une véritable garantie que vous verrez un jaguar un jour mais nous pouvons vous promettre que vous pourrez découvrir d’autres choses tout aussi stupéfiantes : les petits chats comme les ocelots, aussi bien que les tapirs, les tamanoirs géants, les renards, les singes gaffeurs et les caimans sont des espèces connues de la région, tout comme les centaines d’espèces d’oiseaux, dont beaucoup sont totalement spectaculaire.
ITINERAIRE

JOUR 1 : PANTANAL-TRANSPANTANEIRA , exploration de la faune
Nous viendrons vous chercher dans votre hôtel à Cuiabá à 7H30 et prendrons la direction du Pantanal pendant environ 1H50 sur la route TRANSPANTANEIRA , qui est l’un des meilleurs endroits au monde pour découvrir la faune. Durant le trajet, nous ferons plusieurs arrêts afin d’apprécier la faune et la flore de la région. Cela sera aussi une excellente opportunité de photographier la nature et les paysages. Nous déjeunerons à l’hôtel Mato Grosso au km 65, soit à mi chemin avant d’arriver à la fin de la route TRANSPANTANEIRA. Nous continuerons de rouler, de photographier les environs avant d’arriver dans l’après –midi au Jaguar Camp. Le diner et les soirée se dérouleront au camp.

JOUR 2 : JOURNEE ENTIERE A LA RECHERCHE DES JAGUAR
Un petit déjeuner tôt le matin sera suivi d’une ballade en bateau pour arriver dans le STATE PARK « rencontres des eaux » à la recherche de signes récents d’activité des jaguars sur les bords de la rivière. Nous retournerons ensuite au bateau, toujours à la recherche des puissants chats et autres animaux sauvages comme les capibaras, les singes noirs gaffeurs, les iguanes, les caïmans et de nombreuses espèces d’oiseaux. Après avoir profité du coucher du soleil, nous serons de retour au lodge pour le diner et la soirée.

JOUR 3 : JOURNEE ENTIERE A LA RECHERCHE DES JAGUAR
Une nouvelle fois, nous voyagerons par bateau après un petit déjeuner pris très tôt vers 5 heures le matin. Ce jour, nous naviguerons sur la rivière CUIABA. Une grande partie de la journée sera consacrée à l’exploration de cette région lointaine, parfaite pour explorer la faune et la nature. Nous déjeunerons sur le bateau afin de passer le plus de temps possible dans cet environnement naturel extraordinaire et cela jusqu’au coucher du soleil, à travers des étapes toutes aussi surprenantes les unes que les autres. Le diner et la soirée auront lieu au camp Jaguar.

JOUR 4 : JOURNEE ENTIERE A LA RECHERCHE DES JAGUAR
Après le petit déjeuner, nous prendrons notre bateau et voyagerons vers l’amont de la rivière CUIABA qui est le lieu où la densité de jaguars est la plus importante dans tout le PANTANAL. La plupart des jaguars sont observables durant la journée et peuvent être vus de très près. Le déjeuner aura lieu sur place. Nous serons de retour au camp après le coucher du soleil pour diner et passer la soirée.

JOUR 5 : JOURNEE ENTIERE A LA RECHERCHE DES JAGUAR
Petit Déjeuner tôt le matin, bateau direction la rivière PIQUIRI , l’endroit le plus incroyable pour voir les loutres géantes et les loutres de rivières neo tropicales. Nous piqueniquerons et reviendrons sur nos pas pour de nouveau observer les jaguars. Retour au camp, diner, soirée.

JOUR 6 : JOURNEE ENTIERE A LA RECHERCHE DES JAGUAR
Après un petit déjeuner très tôt, un nouveau jour entier en bateau pour observer la diversité des animaux de la région, jaguars, tapirs, tamanoirs, loutres géantes ,oiseaux et les autres animaux caractéristiques de la région. Le déjeuner se prendra sur le bateau qui a une taille approprié les bords de la rivière dans la région de Porto Jofre.

JOUR 7 : JOURNEE ENTIERE A LA RECHERCHE DES JAGUAR
Un petit déjeuner tôt le matin sera suivi d’une ballade en bateau pour arriver dans le STATE PARK « rencontres des eaux » et aller à la rencontre de la vie sauvage de la région mais l’objectif principal de ce voyage est d’avoir de sublimes clichés des magnifiques jaguars . Déjeuner. Nous retournerons ensuite au bateau, toujours à la recherche des puissants chats et autres animaux sauvages comme les capibaras, les singes noirs gaffeurs, les iguanes, les caïmans et de nombreuses espèces d’oiseaux. Après avoir profité du coucher du soleil, nous serons de retour au lodge pour le diner et la soirée.

JOUR 8 : la vie du Pantanal
Après le petit déjeuner, nous commencerons notre route en direction du nord sur la transpantaneira, nous déjeunerons dans l’un des lodges qui longent la route et arriverons à CUIABA dans l’après-midi . Au choix nous vous mènerons dans un hôtel de la ville ou à l’aéroport.
www.pantanalnature.com.br - ailton@pantanalnature.com.br

Jaguars in the region of Porto Jofre

2011-02-14T16:35:00.000-08:00

Pantanal Nature - Jaguar Encounters

Pantanal Jaguar Camp

Jaguar Safaris - Northern Pantanal

2011-01-22T11:25:00.000-08:00

Take a look at the the jaguar pictures taken on our wildlife safaris in the Pantanal by clicking on photo, thanks. http://www.pantanalnature.com.br/

Pantanal Jaguar-safari Exklusiv

2011-01-02T12:33:00.000-08:00

Begegnung mit dem Jaguar
Die Jaguar Reiseroute ist für maximal 6 Personen vorgesehen. Die Wildnis in der Region Porto Jofre ist fantastisch und die Wahrscheinlichkeit die beeindruckenden und schwer auffindbaren Jaguare zu entdecken, ist sehr groß. Neben der Suche nach Jaguaren, sind noch weitere interessante wilde Tiere wie Affen, riesige Flussottern und eine Vielzahl von besonderen Vögeln von unseren gut ausgestatteten Booten, mit denen wir die Jaguare suchen, zu sehen. Unser spezielles Wissen über das Pantanal garantiert, dass unsere Besucher die besten Gebiete zu sehen bekommen. So haben sie die Möglichkeit die wilde Umgebung vollkommen wertzuschätzen und wilde Jaguare zu sehen. Alle Besucher, die fünf oder mehr Tage im Jaguar Camp 2010 verbracht haben, sahen einen Jaguar in der Region Porto Jofre. Wir sahen einen Durchschnitt von 1.1 Jaguaren während der Besuchertage. Natürlich können wir keine Garantie geben, dass Sie eines der fabelhaften Lebewesen sehen werden, aber wir können Ihnen versichern, dass Sie andere ebenso atemberaubende wilde Tiere während ihres Aufenthaltes sehen werden. Kleinere Katzen, wie Ozeloten, ebenso Tapire, riesige Ameisenbären, Pekaries, Füchse, Brüllaffen und Kaimane, sie alle sind reguläre Besonderheiten der Gegend, genauso wie hunderte von besonderen Vögeln. Viele von ihnen sind wirklich spektakulär.

Das Jaguar Camp in Porto Jofre
Unser gepflegtes Quartier in Porto Jofre liegt ganz am Ende der Transpantaneira Straße. Diese Seite wurde ausgesucht, um unseren Gästen die bestmögliche Gelegenheit zu geben, eine Vielzahl und eine große Auswahl an wilden Tieren zu sehen. Die Zelte sind einfach eingerichtet mit komfortablen Betten und Elektrizität. Toiletten und Duschen sind seitlich der Zelte vorhanden. Alle Zelte haben eine großartige Aussicht auf die wunderschöne Umgebung. Jaguare und andere interessante wilde Tiere können direkt vom Camp aus beobachtet werden: viele Jaguare wurden entdeckt als sie in der Nähe Wasserschweine und Kaimane gejagt haben.

Die Jaguar-Begegnungs-Tour schafft Sie fort von den gewöhnlichen Straßen, der belebten Transpantaneira Straße, weiter in das Pantanal, zum Piquiri Fluss, dem Cuiabá Fluss und den Três Irmaos Fluss, zum Zusammentreff des Water State Parks. Die Region ist eine der besten Naturschutzgebiete und hat die höchste Dichte an Jaguarpopulation im ganzen Pantanal. Die Wahrscheinlichkeit Jaguare zu sehen, liegt bei 94%, besonders von Mitte Juni bis Mitte November. Die Basis um die Region zu erkunden, ist das Jaguar Camp, eine komfortable und gemütliche Camping-lodge, gelegen am Ufer des Cuiabá Fluss, in der Nähe des State Parks. Das Camp ist ein idealer Platz Reisende, die Ruhe und Intimität mögen. Sie haben das Nutzen eines Pantanal Natur Bootes mit Ausrüstung zusammen mit ihrem eigenen Tourguide und Bootsführer. Sie sind Experten im Boothandling und im Annähern an Jaguare mit minimaler Lautstärke. Aufgrund ihrer Erfahrung auf dem Wasser sind sie üblicherweise auch erfahrene Jaguarbeobachter. Die beste Zeit um diese Lebewesen zu sehen, ist von Juni bis Oktober, wenn der Wasserstand niedrig ist, aber das ganze Jahr über bietet es ein lohnendes Erlebnis.

Beispiel eines Reiseverlaufs
1. Tag - Ankunft am Flughafen in Cuiabá, wo Sie ihren Tourguide treffen, alternativ können wir Sie auch von ihrem Hotel in Cuiabá abholen. Abfahrt in das Pantanal, eine 1.5 Stunden-Fahrt, um die Transpantaneira Straße zu erreichen, welche eines der besten Plätze der Welt ist, um wilde Tiere zu beobachten. Mehrere Stopps werden gemacht um die spektakuläre Flora und Fauna auf dem Weg wahrzunehmen. Dies wird ebenso eine exzellente Möglichkeit bieten, um Aufnahmen von wilden Tieren zu machen. Angekommen beim gepflegten Porto Jofre Camp, wird ihr Guide Sie zu ihrem ersten Spaziergang in der Wildnis mitnehmen. Wir werden bis zum Sonnenuntergang nach Helmpipra, chotoy spailtail, schwarz taillierten Seidenaffen und Hyazinth-Aras suchen. Das Pantanal ist berühmt für seine dramatischen Sonnenuntergänge - ein Vergnügen für Photografen. Abendessen und Übernachtung in der Lodge. (Mittag & Abendessen).

2. Tag - Das frühe morgendliche Frühstück ist gefolgt von einem Boottrip in dem State Park ‘Zusammentreffen der Gewässer’, um nach Zeichen von frischen Jaguaraktivitäten am Flussufer zu suchen. Mittag. Danach kehren wir zum Boot zurück, um nach gewaltigen großen Katzen und anderen interessanten wilden Tieren, wie Wasserschweinen, schwarzen Brüllaffen, Leguanen, Kaimanen und vielen Arten von verschiedenartigen Vogelspezien zu gucken. Nach dem Sonnenuntergang kehren wir zurück zum Hotel. Abendessen und Übernachtung im Camp. (Frühstück, Mittag, Abendessen).

3. Tag - Ein weiteres Mal fahren wir mit dem Boot nach einem frühen Frühstück um 5 Uhr. Heute fahren wir den Cuiabá Fluss weiter hinauf. Die meiste Zeit des Tages wird damit verbracht, die abgelegene Region zu erkunden, die hervorragend ist, um wilde Tiere und die Natur zu beobachten. Wir werden im Boot Mittag essen, um mehr Zeit in diesem wunderschönen Naturschutzgebiet verbringen zu können. Danach wird mit dem Boot nach weiteren wilden Tieren Ausschau gehalten bis zum Sonnenuntergang. Das Abendessen ist gefolgt von einer Nachtsafari mit dem Auto. Das Scheinwerferlicht wird genutzt um Tiere aufzuspüren, wie Füchse, die Krabben essen, Tapiere, Kaimane und nachtaktive Vögel. Stopps werden ebenfalls gemacht, um Ihnen die Möglichkeit zu geben, die zauberhaften Geräusche im Pantanal bei Nacht zu erleben. Sie werden die unvergesslichen Rufe der Nachtschwalbe und der Tagschläfer hören ebenso wie den Lärm der Ochsenfrösche. Übernachtung im Camp. (Frühstück, Mittag, Abendessen).

4. Tag - Nach einem frühen Frühstück, werden wir mit dem Boot den Cuiabá Fluss aufwärts fahren, gefolgt von dem Três Irmaos Fluss. Es ist ein großartiger Ort mit der höchsten Jaguardichte und Jaguarsightseeings im ganzen Pantanal. Die meisten wurden während des Tages gesehen und können aus naher Distanz gesehen werden. Mittag. Rückkehr zur Lodge nach dem Sonnenuntergang. Übernachtung im Camp. (Frühstück, Mittag, Abendessen).

5. Tag - Nach dem Frühstück beginnen wir unsere Fahrt in Richtung Norden auf der Transpantaneira Straße zu unserem nächsten Ziel, wo wir in der Pousada Rio Claro wohnen werden. Dies ist nun ein weiteres fantastisches Gebiet um wilde Tiere zu beobachten. Nachdem Sie sich in ihrem Quartier eingerichtet haben und sich ein wenig erholt haben, werden wir einen Spaziergang entlang des Claro Flusses machen, um nach Schildkröten, Ameisenbären, Ameisenfänger sowie bunte Tucans. Dieses umweltfreundliche, facettenreiche Gebiet ist eine Collage aus galeriereifen Wäldern (Laubwald und kein Laubwald) zusätzlich zur Savanne und seichten Gewässern, die eine umwerfende Vielseitigkeit an wilden Tieren liefert. Abendessen und Übernachtung in der Lodge Rio Claro. (Frühstück, Mittag, Abendessen).

6. Tag - Ein früher morgendlicher Spaziergang um den Sonnenaufgang zu genießen. Das ist auch eine Gelegenheit, um nachtaktive wie auch tagaktive Tiere zu beobachten. Danach ein kurzer Kanutrip, um die vom Aussterben bedrohten Ottern zu entdecken: ein sehr soziales Tier, das in Rudeln jagt und spielt. Ihr lautes Grunzen führt meistens dazu, dass man sie erst hört, bevor man sie sieht. Diese graziösen Lebewesen sind wirklich wundervolle Tiere zum beobachten. Dem Frühstück folgt eine Diskussion über all das, was wir während unser Tour gesehen haben. Unsere Pantanal Wildtier - Abhakliste kann hier von Nutzen sein. Dann ist es Zeit unsere Sachen zu packen und nachmittags nach Cuiabá zurückzufahren. Wie Sie möchten, bringen wir Sie zum Flughafen oder zu ihrem Hotel.

Die Rio Claro lodge liegt wunderschön am Flussbett des Rio Claro. Es gibt insgesamt 20 Appartements, alle Räume sind ausgestattet mit einer Klimaanlage, einem Deckenventilator, einem eigenen Badezimmer, Fenstern mit Moskitonetz, einer Hängematte und drei einzelnen Betten. Exzellent um die letzte Nacht im Pantanal zu verbringen. Die Lodge ist etwa 2.5 Stunden mit dem Auto von dem Flughafen in Cuiabá entfernt.

Here is the English version for this tour

Pantanal - Begegnung mit dem Jaguar / Safari

2011-01-02T10:22:00.000-08:00

Pantanal Nature - Cuiaba - Wildlife photography
http://www.pantanalnature.com.br/

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !

2010-12-23T13:28:00.000-08:00

Pantanal Jaguar Camp with Pau and Judit

2010-12-11T13:33:00.000-08:00

I have taken Pau and Judite Nuñes on jaguar tour from our Jaguar Camp in Porto Jofre. Pau and Judite are avid cat Photographers and we were lucky enough to spot jaguars every day we were on the boat and had 8 sighseeings and 5 of them were on clearing of the river bank...pefect for picture! Aside from having a density of Jaguars in the protected areas, one of the keen reasons for being able to see Jaguar is the type of habitat that they live in. You could search for many months in the thick jungle of the Amazon for this 'mighty cat' and be rewarded only with pugmarks and evidence of kills. It is the open habitat of the Pantanal, sheer number of prey species and importantly the fondness for this cat to stay close to water that provides all the necessary ingredients for regular "Jaguar Encounter" This makes the area very special, not because the jaguars but general wildlife.

Giant Otter

Hyacinth Macaw

Jabiru Stork

Pantanal Dual Survivor - Brazil

2010-10-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

Two skilled experts. Many ways to survive
Experts agree there are some very basic — and universal — rules for surviving in the wild. Find shelter, find water, find food, find help. Beyond that, there's not much they agree on. Meet military trained Dave Canterbury and naturalist Cody Lundin — trained survival experts who have very different methods of meeting survival challenges. Together, with their drastically different backgrounds, the pair are dropped into scenarios that could happen to anyone: marooned sailors, lost hikers, trapped divers and stranded mountain climbers. Equipped with minimal gear that would have been carried in the real-life situations, Cody and Dave must draw upon their arsenal of skills to devise extraordinary ways to use what they can find in their surroundings to demonstrate what it takes to stay alive together with the Pantanal Nature from Cuiabá the Discovery Channel crew developed contens based on Guató indians, Indian of the Pantanal.
FAIR USE NOTICE: This video may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes only. This constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law.dual survival, dual survivor, dave canterbury, cody lundin, discovery channel, survival, bushcraft, Pathfinder School, Aboriginal Living Skills School, wildernessoutfitters, wilderness outfitters, Self Reliance, Primitive Skills, Primitive Living, Woodsmanship and Historical Woodslore. http://www.pantanalnature.com.br/ and http://www.discovery.com/

Pantanal Nature's tour guide together with dave and cody at the restaurante in the Pantanal.

Map of the Pantanal - Where to find Jaguars in the Pantanal

2010-10-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

This Pantanal map - Pocone - Pantanal Brazil

Pantanal Jaguars ( Overlap)

2010-09-22T09:38:00.000-07:00

In the Pantanal, jaguars have coexisted with extensive cattle ranching for a long time. Cattle predation by jaguars causes financial losses for the ranchers and jaguars are often killed in retaliation. There is no easy solution to this conflict, especially not in an area where cattle are bred over large areas that are often difficult to access. The Jaguar Social Project tested an approach to soften this conflict between jaguars and livestock ranchers – ranchers agreed not to kill or allow the killing of jaguars on their properties and in exchange, received financial compensation for each head of cattle lost to jaguar predation. In addition, the farm workers received free medical attention during pre-scheduled campaigns. The program was well accepted – 13 properties joined this agreement – and results of the project show that this approach is feasible on a local scale. In a recent study of how the jaguar is perceived by rural communities. we found that in the area where the Jaguar Social Program had been people understood the ecological value of jaguars and had an overall positive attitude towards jaguar conservation. While this is a positive result, jaguar hunting is still the principal threat to the species in the Pantanal. In our conception, Pantanal Nature was created to bring eco-traveller to see this ilusive filine to involve more local people to make sure the jaguar will not go to extiction and while watching jaguars we will be one the jaguars guards , native wildlife is important for the world, together we make the difference. http://www.pantanalnature.com.br/ Cuiabá Mato Grosso - Brazil.

Mating pairs separate after the act, and females provide all parenting. The gestation period lasts 93–105 days; females give birth to up to four cubs, and most commonly to two. The mother will not tolerate the presence of males after the birth of cubs, given a risk of infanticide; this behaviour is also found in the tiger. The young are born blind, gaining sight after two weeks. Cubs are weaned at three months but remain in the birth den for six months before leaving to accompany their mother on hunts. They will continue in their mother's company for one to two years before leaving to establish a territory for themselves. Young males are at first nomadic, jostling with their older counterparts until they succeed in claiming a territory. Typical lifespan in the wild is estimated at around 12–17 years; in captivity, the jaguar lives up to 23 years, placing it among the longest-lived cats.

Like most cats, the jaguar is solitary outside mother-cub groups. Adults generally meet only to court and mate (though limited non-courting socialization has been observed anecdotally and carve out large territories for themselves. Female territories, which range from 25 to 40 square kilometers in size, may overlap, but the animals generally avoid one another. Male ranges cover roughly twice as much area, varying in size with the availability of game and space, and do not overlap. The jaguar uses scrape marks, urine, and feces to mark its territory.

Like all cats, the jaguar is an obligate carnivore, feeding only on meat. It is an opportunistic hunter and its diet encompasses 85 species. The jaguar prefers large prey and will take deer, capybara, tapirs, peccaries, dogs, foxes, caimans and sometimes even anacondas. However, the cat will eat any small species that can be caught, including frogs, mice, birds, fish, monkeys, and turtles.

All these picture were taken near our 3 star tented camp at Porto Jofre

Find out more at ailton@pantanalnature.com.br

Die neuen Paradiese -08- Brasilien-Wilde Gewaesser

2010-09-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

This video I have selected for the german speakers, I will also add the french version of it, this really good to have an idea how Pantanal looks like in the wetseason. there is always plenty of wildlife visible. The videos were recorded at the Rio Clarinho farm , the farm we work mostly, it is simple, but it has good atmospher as well as an obeservation tower, and the best area in the Northern Pantanal to see tapir and Otters.

Pantanal Nature has worked the entire time for the crew. See more information our webpage. Pantanal Nature

Pantanal Jaguar Tour at Pantanal Jaguar Camp

2010-07-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

The first jaguar tour in the season this year with a family from Autralia as well as the first group taken to the Pantanal Bios Tented Camp at Porto Jofre. Our tented accommodation at Porto Jofre is set up at the very end of the Transpantaneira Road. The site was chosen to ensure our guests have the best available chance to view as wide a range and number of wildlife as possible.

The tents are simply furnished with comfortable beds and electricity. Toilets and hot showers are available on the site. All the tents have great views of the beautiful surroundings.

Jaguars and other interesting wildlife can be tracked directly from the camp site; many jaguars have been spotted hunting nearby for capybaras and caiman.. Here is heaven of jaguar… panthera onca. In the other boat jean our guide was also guiding a French couple. The Cuiabá river and its tributaries in this this time the water level is low, the river banks are exposed allowing the wildlife to be more visible. We had 2 jaguar sightseeing at Santana region along the Piquiri River a tributary of Cuiabá River. On the tour we have seen Neotropical and Giant Otters, Hyacinth Macaws,Jaguar,Marsh and Red Broket Deer,hundreds of birds, South Amerian Coatis, Six-banded Armadillo,Piranas, Snake Elicops leopardinus,Tapir and others.

BREEDING: Jaguars have no defined breeding season and will mate any time of year. After a gestation period of 100 days, a female will give birth to a litter of two to four cubs. A mother continues to feed her young until they are one year old, and she stays with them for an additional year. Cubs reach sexual maturity at two to four years of age.

LIFE CYCLE: Jaguars live a total of 12 to 16 years.

FEEDING: An excellent swimmer and a strong climber, the jaguar will often wait in trees for its prey, relying on proximity rather than sustained speed in hunting. More than 85 species have been recorded in the jaguar’s diet, including deer, javelina, desert bighorn sheep, birds, monkeys, turtles, snakes, and fish. Once they’ve caught their prey, jaguars pierce the skulls with their canines, demonstrating the amazing strength of their powerful jaws

Cavalhada in Poconé - Pantanal - a friendly conpetition between Moors & Christians

2010-06-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

Cavalhada Poconé is a festival of Portuguese origin. Cavalhada arrived in Mato Grosso in 1769, commemorating the arrival of Luiz Pinto de Sousa Coutinho, The Captain General and Governor of the third capital of Mato Grosso, settling in the city of wetland Poconé. The demonstration was absent from the cultural scene of Mato Grosso for 35 years (56-90), but returned in 1991 with very steep. And thus the Cavalhada, scene of fierce medieval tournaments in arenas of Europe, gained prominence in the tradition and culture of Mato Grosso. The event is commonly associated with known episodes of history and literature, such as the Trojan War and the Crusades. Richly decorated horses and riders compete at the sound of the peal of a "box". The Cavalhada happens every year during the Feast of St. Benedito in June and beyond the clash between the armies of Moors and Christians, Cavalhada still has the Ball of the Knights, the Feast of Lights (with fireworks), the Dance of the Masquerade, siriri and cururu and closed with a great popular show. Knights and pages with costumes and props wealthy position themselves on their horses with natural adornment, adorn themselves with feathers, ribbons and bells. Then step into the arena struggles catching the sound of the peal of the "box", a unique percussion instrument, the rhythmic trotting of horses and the clink of rattles. Each army is composed of 12 gentlemen and their respective pages. The party begins to enter the army Moor with red and blue Christian army, after the entry of the queen, and mainteners(people who send in the army), then the ambassador, after the flag of the Holy Spirit and St. Benedito, Moors after the queen is stolen by the Christian army and the castle is fired. Soon after the castle burned, then starts the competition among them the head of Judas proves Lemon, head of the Queen, among others. that in the end the Moorish army puts white flags in the arena in which he declared the peace between the two armies.

For further information about the festival, contact us , we will give all detail how to get there and enjoy the interesting party that takes place annually.

Nature in the Pantanal - Addie,Justine,Mateus and Daisuke

2010-05-16T13:19:00.000-07:00

Leaf-cutter Ants

Their societies are based on an ant-fungus mutualism and different species use different species of fungus, but all of the fungi the ants use are members of the family. The ants actively cultivate their fungus, feeding it with freshly-cut plant material and maintaining it free from pests and molds. This mutualist relationship is further augmented by another symbiotic partner, a bacterium that grows on the ants and secretes chemicals—essentially the ants use portable antimicrobials. Leaf cutter ants are sensitive enough to adapt to the fungi's reaction to different plant material, apparently detecting chemical signals from the fungus. If a particular type of leaf is toxic to the fungus the colony will no longer collect it. The only two other groups of insects that have evolved fungus-based agriculture are ambrosia beetles and termites.The fungus that is cultivated by the adults feeds the ants larvae, and the adult ants feed off of the leaf sap. The fungus needs the ants to stay alive, and the larvae need the fungus to stay alive.

The female builds a nest of vegetation where the decomposition of the vegetation provides the heat needed to incubate the eggs. The sex of the offspring is determined by the temperature in the nest and is fixed within 7 to 21 days of the start of incubation and it will las is about 80 days. Incubation temperatures of 30 or lower produce a clutch of females; those of 34 °C or higher produce entirely males. Nests constructed on leaves are hotter than those constructed on wet marsh and, thus, the former tend to produce males and the latter, females. The mother will defend the nest from predators and will assist the hatchlings to water. She will provide protection to the young for about a year if they remain in the area. In the Pantanal the cayman egges are hatched in April / May when the rain tend to stop, but moisture is important to help to compost the vegetation for the heat, it needs have a bit of rain, this is an amazing nature balance.
watching the sunset at the observation tower on the ground of Pousada Rio Clarinho.

Addie,Justyna, Mateus and Daisuke wen on a 4 day tour with Pantanal Nature and had so much fun together as everyone was able to speak portuguese and I am the wering a black hat and blue t-shirt as you can see on the picture. Addie was born in Brazil, Justyna Poland , their son in England and Daisuke Japan. It was a really multicultural group. They visited Pantanal and Chapada dos Guimarães.

Pantanal Nature - information on temperature and how it works ususally.

2010-05-14T08:28:00.000-07:00

Three systems of circulation occur in the Middle-West region: the system of disturbed currents of the West, represented by unstable events during the summer; system of disturbed currents of the North, represented by Convergence Intertropical (CIT), that produces rains in the summer, autumn and winter in the north of the region; and the system of disturbed currents of the South, represented by the polar fronts, invading the area in the winter with great frequency, producing rains of one to three days duration.
The winter is an interesting season - low temperatures occurring quite frequently. This is caused by the polar invasion, that produces the cold weather which is very common at this time of the year. The medium temperature of the coldest month oscillates between 15oC and 24oC, and the average of the minimum temperatures ranges from 8oC to 18oC. Minimum temperatures are sometimes negative.
The characterization of the pluviosity of the region is almost exclusively due to the system of atmospheric circulation. The annual medium pluviosity varies from 2,000 to 3,000 mm in the north of Mato Grosso, to 1,250 mm in the Pantanal mato-grossense.
In spite of this inequality, the region is well provided with rain. Its seasonality is typically tropical, with maximum in the summer and minimum in the winter. More than 70% of the total rain that is accumulated during the year falls from November to March. The winter is excessively dry, because the rains are very rare. Pantanal Nature Cuiabá Mato Grosso Wildlife Tours

Pantanal documentary for a Franco-German TV

2010-05-07T20:31:00.000-07:00

Fly with the helicopter is has a greater view od the Pantanal ecosystem from above.

Arte (Association Relative à la Télévision Européenne) is a Franco-German TV network. It describes itself as a European culture channel and aims to promote quality programming especially in areas of culture and the arts. Its facilities are located in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris, France, Strasbourg, France (headquarters) and Baden-Baden in Germany.

Here is the crew and participants on the Pantanal documentary at the Lodge (Rio Clarinho).

Jean Bernards is director responsible for overseeing the creative aspects of a film, including controlling the content and flow of the film's plot, directing the performances of actors, organizing and selecting the locations in which the film will be shot, and managing technical details such as the positioning of cameras, the use of lighting, and the timing and content of the film's soundtrack. Marco Andre a camera operator ( C.O.) is a person that operated a film or video camera for the purpose of recording a production to film, video, or a computer storage medium. A camera operator serving in an official capacity in the process of filmmaking may also be known variously as a cameraman, television camera operator, video camera operator, or videographer, depending on the context and technology involved.

I was mimicking the jaguar's road and our driver Daniel was listen to it.

The American Brahman has a distinct large hump over the top of the shoulder and neck, and a loose flap of skin (dewlap) hanging from the neck. Their ears are larger than Bos taurus breeds. Bulls weigh 1,600 to 2,200 pounds (800 to 1,100 kg) and cows weigh 1,000 to 1,400 pounds (500 to 700 kg). At birth, calves weigh 60 to 65 pounds (30 to 33 kg).
Organic cattle ranchers in the Brazilian Pantanal Wetlands are taking an important step towards certification by establishing a new initiative for this segment: the creation of an internal protocol aiming at production processes and social & environmental responsibility.
Cattle ranching breeding seeks to produce while maintaining the ecological balance and putting the production components together with environmental and social ones, in compliance with the norms required by the certification organization.

Ailton Lara, Cristoph and Joseff were the protagonist as well as Toninho and Aniluce of the Pantanal documentary of Accuiel Arte; cinematic, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to share the most empathy. The documentary is about wildlife,sport fishing, cattle drive(cowboy activities)

The Pantanal,Nobres, and Chapada dos Guimarães activities were organised by Pantanal Nature(http://www.pantanalnature.com.br/) We have used a Kombi van with roof rack, helicopter,speed boat and employees of the lodge Rio Clarinho; Cesar, Divino as well as Afrânio, Ailton and Daniel our driver. In Nobres Toninho showed the best of fauna under water; in Chapada dos Guimarães Aniluce explained about geography.

Ox cart is a large two-wheeled cart made entirely of natural materials. Often drawn by oxen, these carts were used throughout most of the 19th century in the fur trade. It was very usuful in the Pantanal, you can be able to see it At Fazenda do Mauricio in the Pantanal...on km 37 of transpantaneira road as you drive south.

Ninety-nine percent of the Pantanal wetlands are private property. It is divided among a large number of fazendas – cattle-breeding ranches. The never-ending battle for decent cattle prices has forced many fazenda owners to turn or expand their fazenda into a pousada... lodging for tourists.Cattle ranching has existed in the Pantanal for more than 200 years and the area is largely ruled by "vaqueiros", or "pantaneiros" – the Pantanal cowboys. At night is common to serenate and drink a bit of Cachaça before dinner after a hard graft's day.

A roof rack platform with seats is essential for discovering the Pantanal , you see much more wildlife whle driving the transpantaneira road.

The man with white shirt is Vicente, He works for Pantanal Nature as tour guide and he was guding a group of spanish visitors.

Having dinner at Pousada Rio Clarinho with the crew of Accueil Arte and What's Up Film Production.

Worker termites undertake the labors of foraging, food storage, brood and nest maintenance, and some defense duties in certain species. Workers are the main caste in the colony for the digestion of cellulose in food and are the most likely to be found in infested wood. This is achieved in one of two ways. In all termite families except the Termitidae, there are flagellate protists in the gut that assist in cellulose digestion. However, in the Termitidae, which account for approximately 60% of all termite species, the flagellates have been lost and this digestive role is taken up, in part, by a consortium of prokaryotic organisms. This simple story, which has been in entomology textbooks for decades, is complicated by the finding that all studied termites can produce their own cellulase enzymes, and therefore can digest wood in the absence of their symbiotic microbes.

Testimonial from the Director of the documentary:

J’ai tourné tout récemment, en avril-mai 2010 un documentaire sur le Pantanal et ses environs pour la chaîne franco-allemande Arte qui sera probablement diffusé cet été 2010, dans la collection « Les nouveaux Paradis ». Ailton Lara a été l’homme multi-tâches de ce tournage qui a duré 18 jours : organisateur du plan de travail et des différentes séquences à tourner dans beaucoup de lieux tels Nobres, Chapada dos Guimaroes, Poconé, Porto Joffre et tout le long de la route Transpantaneira, de jour comme de nuit. Il avait la charge aussi pour chaque séquence de nous trouver un personnage-clef, ce qu'il a assuré à merveille. Il était responsable aussi de toutes les commodités : hôtels, lodges, restauration etc. Tout reposait sur lui car je n’avais pas repéré les lieux avant de venir tourner ce film.Il nous a permis de tourner la vie des cow-boys, des pêcheurs traditionnels ou de pêche sportive, et des animaux bien sûr dont c’est la passion de naturaliste, en bateau, à cheval, en voiture, et même en tracteur pour filmer le passage d’un troupeau dans les marais et leur traversée d’une rivière !Il a débusqué très patiemment bon nombre d’animaux que le plus souvent nous n’avions même pas entendu ou repéré de nous-mêmes, en imitant leur cri ou en les débusquant dans les marais, à pied ou à cheval ! Il ne baisse jamais les bras. Vous voulez un fourmilier, il vous le trouvera, alors qu’ils ne courent pas les marais. Il a su pour chaque personnage ou chaque animal filmé nous communiquer toutes les informations.Bref, il est devenu le personnage principal du film, autant acteur que guide, nous parlant de son enfance chez les cow-boys, ou expliquant le monde du Pantanal où il est né, nous communiquant aussi toute sa passion.Très sympathique, habile, disponible et intelligent. Nous l'avons finalement surnommé "Le Jaguar du Pantanal Nord"Bref grâce à Ailton ce tournage fut un succès : pour le film, pour notre aventure personnelle et pour le plaisir de tous.

Jean-Bernard Andro,Réalisateur.

A french group of 5 - The end of rainy season

2010-05-07T19:46:00.000-07:00

Boat trip at Rio Clarinho (Claire and Greg) , they live in capital of São Paulo

Gregoire and his wife came to the Pantanal for their second time, the first time in 2008. On their second time they came with Greg's mother and his father and mother-in-law.The Pantanal has two very sharply defined seasons, a Rainy and a Dry season. Both seasons are good for travel to this region and the activities are tailored to the weather and the flooding cycle. The rainy season occurs roughly from October to March with the wettest months being February and March. The months of least rainfall are July and August. The rainy season roughly corresponds to the flooded season. In the months of December through April water rushes over the banks of the many rivers in the Pantanal and much of the savanna is covered with a shallow sheet of water. The highest water months are generally January and February. These great environmental fluctuations are one of the reasons that the wildlife is so concentrated. We have shown them alot of animals and share experiences together.

The horses in the Pantanal are 4x4 and 1 HP, good for muddy waters ! They are tamed for bigginers, but also used for cowboys to round up cattle. Yahoo........

5 participants of the tour April 2010

2010-04-20T21:39:00.000-07:00

Carine,Michael,Bettina,Bem from England and olivier from France were the tour participants and we did so many different activities such as boat tris walkings, horsebackring,sunrise and sunset boat trips as well as nigt safari and the number of wildlife species got greatly increased on each trip I did at Rio Clarinho Lodge.

The vast and ever changing wetlands of Brazil respond to the wet and dry seasons of the tropics by swelling and shrinking like a slowly beating heart. Every year within a few short months, a sea of waving grass is amazingly transformed into a sea of water. And a remarkable explosion of life occurs, these are all on the ducumentary we were watching.

Our boat ride through the floodable grassland searching for howler monkeys as well as interesting breathtakings.

Visitors from India - Pousada Rio Clarinho

2010-04-19T19:01:00.001-07:00

Ven,Girija and dipa. afamily from India. They were on our tour in the Pantanal, India has an amazing culture, the and I think each culture is its own value...indeed. The lodge Rio Clarinho has given them a good time with delicius fresh cooked food for vegans and vegetarians. India is one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world, with some of the most deeply religious societies and cultures. Religion still plays a central and definitive role in the life of most of its people.

Boat ride is always one of the best way to have greater diversity of wildlife, we were watching the howler monkeys in the trompet tree.

Lineated Woodpecker, the habitat of this species is forest borders and other open woodland. It is not a mountain bird, three white eggs are laid in a nest hole is in a dead tree and incubated by both sexes. The young are fed by regurgitation. Lineated Woodpeckers chip out holes, often quite large, while searching out insects in trees. They mainly eat insects, especially ants and beetle larvae, with some seeds, such as from Heliconia, and fruits, berries and nuts. They are hammering sound makes that can be heard almost of the time when you go for a walk in the Pantanal.

Checking out the films and picture take of the Hyacinth Macaws were seating in the tree, see the picture bellow...

The Pantanal is a huge gently-sloped basin that receives runoff from the upland areas (the Planalto highlands) and slowly releases the water through the Paraguay River and tributaries.

5 day tour of the Pantanal

2010-03-30T04:27:00.000-07:00

Ana,Barbara,Livio,Neil, and has Paul were
the ecotraveller I was guiding, the tour has produced alot of especial wildlife species such as Crab-eating Foxe, Tarantulas, King Vulture, Hyacith Macaws, a Tapir 3 troops of diffrent species of monkeys. Ana,Neil and Paul were England and Barbara and her husband Livio from Italy. Here yo can see some of the pics taken on the tour.

On our way back to the lodge appreciating the sunset on the ground of the lodge Rio Clarinho.

The Rufous Hornero breeds in the austral summer, laying eggs between September and December and raising nestlings between October and January. The species is monogamous and will maintain the pair bond for many years, even for life. The nest of the species is typical for the genus, a large thick clay "oven" placed on a tree, or more recently on man made structures such as fenceposts, telephone poles or buildings.

As a medium-small sized crocodilian, most adult individuals caiman grow to roughly 2 or 2.5 meters in length, with the occasional 3 meter individual (there are reports of occasional 4 meter individuals within the Pantanal, but this is yet to be verified.) Their smaller size makes them a favorite prey of the jaguar and Yellow Anaconda. This species diet consists primarily of fish (especially piranha)... with the occasional capybara being taken by larger adults. In general, all species of caiman (the exception being the large Black Caiman) are incapable of seriously harming or consuming humans,but they aren't found in the Pantanal, otherwise it was going to be a guide's biggest threat as we are out on field most of the time.

The Black-collared Hawk lives on a diet mainly composed of fish. It also eats water bugs and occasionally lizards, snails and rodents.

The Pantanal ecosystem...roughly ( UK sized) is also thought to be home to 900 bird species, 400 fish species, 300 mammalian species, 480 reptile species and over 9000 different subspecies of invertebrates.

http://www.pantanalnature.com.br/

(65) 33220203 Cuiabá Mato Grosso - Brazil

Chapada dos Guimarães, Nobres and Amazon

2010-03-23T19:07:00.000-07:00

I took Alex on a trip to Nobres, Amazon and Chapada dos Guimarães. Alex i a successful award winning photographer and writer who has worked for clients on 4 continents, including some of the biggest names in the editorial, corporate, NGO and PR world and portraits for select private clients.
Awards Alex was runner up in the Friends of the Earth International Photography Award 2007 and was selected to be one of only 4 photographers worldwide to photograph for Womex in 2008.
The 2006 Fall Latin issue of Departures Magazine for which he was a major photographic and copy contributor won a US National Magazine Award from the American Society of Magazine Editors.
The anniversary edition of Viagem e Turismo for which he was a major photographic and copy contributor on won a Brazilian Press Award.
Selected Client List
Corporate, PR and NGOsAPEX (Agência de Promoção de Exportações do Brasil), Action Aid, Aurelia PR, BBC, Bondy Consulting, Bonobo Presents, British Chamber of Commerce, Channel 4 TV, Cox and Kings, Demon Music Group, Eden Project, Fitbug, Ford Cars Europe, Journey Latin America, Union Square Music, Polaris World, Time Bank, Smithsonian Institution.

Lagoa Azul (blue lagoon). Piping is consequence of a high friability of the rocks due to regional fracturing, and to lithostatic unload of these lowermost lithostratigraphic units of the Paraná Basin.

Thie is a trail to get largest sandstone cavern in Brazil, Aroe Jari extends nearly 1550 meters and several pre-historic inscriptions can be found on the inside. Access is achieved over a moderate trail – 4.5 km (2.8 miles) long, an average 1 hour and 20 minute walk.

The Jardim da Amazonia Lodge is located some 290 kilometers from Cuiaba on the border of the Rio Claro river where two ecosystems meet. It is here where the transition of the Pantanal and the Amazon occurs resulting in and enormous variety of flora and fauna which can not be found elsewhere. The lodge can only be reached by car from the city of Cuiaba. The biggest atraction here is a Conebilled Tanager considered extict for 66 years, then found in Parques das Emas and now the ground of Jardim da Amazônia lodge. Accommodations at the lodge are provided either in bungalows or at owner's house now decorated with furniture of the old time. All the old accommodations have king size beds, TV, Fan, Mini-bar and a Balcony. Meals consist of fresh fish and meats prepared in a variety of ways.

Wet tropical forests are the most species rich biome, and tropical forests in the Americas are consistently more species rich than the wet forests in Africa and Asia.

Nobres. Here you will snorkel in incredibly clear rivers filled with fish of all shapes and sizes. You will visit local caves and relax and swim in natural swimming pools; all under the watchful eye of local macaws which roost in the palm trees at night.

Brycon microleps / Piraputanga
The piraputanga can weigh more than 5 lb, but specimens that exceed that weight are very rare nowadays. It feeds on fish, fruit and seeds that fall from trees near the riversides. They generally live in the rapids and countercurrents of rivers, under fruit trees and close to water vegetation.

The present study investigated the ecological relationships between endoparasites and the host Potamotrygon falkneri from the upper Paraná River by using as indicators the host's relative condition factor (Kn), sex and hepatosomatic relation (HSR).

The Golden Dorado (Salminus maxillosus) is a large river fish that lives in the Pantanal, Nobres as well other areas in Brazil. Despite having Salminus in its name, the dorado is not related to any species of salmon, nor to the saltwater fish also called dorado.

Chapada dos Guimarães tour with Janice and Daniel from Socorro NM.

2010-03-19T18:31:00.000-07:00

Janice , Daniel and I went to the the city of Chapada dos Guimarães passing and visiting attractions along the way. These include ‘Salgadeira’, one of the region’s many magnificent waterfalls and Mirante (look out). Also the Portão do Inferno (Hell’s Gate) which offers dramatic views from its precipitous location. We also went to see more stunning, natural attractions including the Véu de Noiva (Veil of the Bride) waterfall.

In the town of Chapada you can get a natural lollies and ice cream of different flavours of tropical fruits.

Mirante ( look out ) , here we can have a great view of the lowland of the Pantanal.

Nobres Tour with Janice and Daniel form Socorro NM

2010-03-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

Nobres is 140km from Cuiabá and strategically located in an area of transitional forest between savannah and the Amazon Forest. The region is known as the ‘Highland Province’ and is the geographical divide between the Amazon and Platina Basins. The local rock is limestone, which in Nobres has created a number of rivers and lakes containing incredibly, crystalline water. These provide a natural habitat for several species of fish and plants; making it perfect for snorkelling.
The tour then moves deeper into the Bom Jardim region to an area similar to the ecological zone of Bonito in the southern Pantanal. Nobres is far less developed than Bonito and so has the advantage of being much less touristy. Here you will snorkel in incredibly clear rivers filled with fish of all shapes and sizes. You will visit local caves and relax and swim in natural swimming pools; all under the watchful eye of local macaws which roost in the palm trees at night.

Janice having fun with her 16 year old son and at natural aquarium at Recanto Ecológico Lagoa Azul.

Pantanal tour with Janice and Daniel from Socorro NM

2010-03-18T14:39:00.000-07:00

We have driven straight from airport to Caranda Fundo Farm in the Pantanal in the evening and after passing Poconé, the last town to reach the transpantaneira road motorway, we stopped and connected up the spotlight to 12v batterry for looking for some night animals and we got luky to see an Ocelot as well as Capybaras,Paraguayan Caimans, Crab-eating Foxes just on the way in. The rest of the tour of the Pantanal we did a mixture of all activities including boat ride,hor seback riding, walking, photo safari, a visit t a tower observation and night safari.

This observation tower is really good to have a close up view of the spcitacidae, primates and understand the Pantanal's landscape.

Looking for wildlife on the boat is always one of the best way to get around.

The Number of Macaws at Caranda fundo is increasing , because the owner of the farm is setting up nests for them, this practice is one of the best way to help the macaw's families to increase without touching it, wildlife needs to be in their natural habitats to develop with more success.

Trained horses are very usuful in the Pantanal to get you to a place where on foot would be wading though.

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture - Pantanal

2010-03-12T17:07:00.000-08:00

The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture flies solitarily, with wings held in a dihedral position. It glides at a low altitude over wetlands of the Pantanal while locating food, and perches on fence posts or on other low perches. When flying, it travels alone and is rarely found in groups. The flight of the lesser Yellow-Headed is an example of static soaring flight, which uses thermals to maintain altitude without the need to flap its wings. This type of often seen along roads waiting for a car to run over an animal and eventually eat the roadkills.
More details where to stay in the Pantanal: Pantanal Jaguar Camp .

Pantanal Nature Tours

2010-03-07T08:59:00.000-08:00

I did guide a tour with an English couple in the Pantanal for 3 days / 2 nights, Skev & Helen were the only two participants of the tour. 100km south of Cuiabá is all you will need to feel like being in the zoo or botanic garden to watch wildlife as well as phite/ hydrophite. Animals can be found year around and most of plants are in the flooding areas at moment. Skev and Helen traveled through out South America and Pantanal wasn’t an exception for them as they were going down to the wire of their trip and had flouwn out from São Paulo. On their third day When Skev & Helen have left the Pantanal, I have started guiding another tour…this time with Nick and Pricila from England as well. The 4 day tour with them produced a lot of wildlife species, about the same amount as we see in the dry season. This year, the water level covered about 200 mts along the transpantaneira road and roughly 40 cm deep. Flood season is very important source here, besides bring nutrients, it also control the water and wildlife balanced. In 1995 our biggest flooding in the tourism history, visitors could start the boat ride from the lodge’s main door…peace of cake !
The Pantanal biggest drout was in 1976, the pantaneiros easily walked all the way across Rio Clarinho wering thong, it was very dry, otherwise it would get lost /stuck in the mud…indeed.

The 4 day tour to the Pantanal with a Russian couple Oleg and anian and Marie from Australia. Driving down the transpantaneira road slowly will give the opportunity to have a severals stops in order to appreciate the wildlife observation. In the dry season, we don’t get many mosquitoes, neither when it is flooded. Mosquitoes very bad when mud areas are exposed with remaing water pools. Special type mosquitoe needs a special temperature to develop their youngs. It is a bit more difficult to find the birds that belong to formicaridae in this time of the year, because the gallery forest is flooded, these birds need to spred out in another kind of forest on higher ground.

Now we can tell that something is changing, the wildlife is less timed and and easier to spot, than 10 years ago, I had a tour with 2 italians from Rome Marco and Fabio, The have stayed at Rio Clarinho for 4 days / 3 nights and we did the usual and the available activities. We had some rains for 2 days, but the other 2 days without rain we made up and saw so many animals, for instance,we got to see a Neotropical Otter, Capuchin and Howler monkey, Black-tailed Marmosets, Giant Anteater, Forest Rabit and Crab-eating Fox.

Mimosa Debilis - Pantanal

2010-02-02T17:29:00.000-08:00

Native to Brazil, this short lived evergreen sub shrub is usually treated as an annual. It is grown for its curiosity value- the fern like leaves close up and droop when touched, usually re-opening within minutes. It has prickly stems and small, fluffy, ball shaped pink flowers in summer. These kids enjoyed playing with it. The best thing about it is that they have lernt is latin name, Mimosa debilis.

Pantanal Tour

2010-02-02T16:20:00.000-08:00

Usually our pantanal tours have an average of 4 visitors, but that week we didn't have any tour comfirmed for the Pantanal Mr Jennifer went to stay at Hotel Ramos where our agency is based and talked to Raquelle the Pantanal Nature's employee working on our operations. She did a 3 days / 2 nights tour to the Pantanal. Just on way in we got to see over 70 bird species including the Hyacinth Macaws. Capybaras we only got to see it at Rio Clarinho Lodge. The tour was very fexible. The mammals we saw there were Capybaras,Giant Otters, Marsh and Red-broket Deer, Crab-eating Fox, Capuchin Monkey, Black Howler Monkey as well as Black-tailed Marmoset. A family of coatis were running across the road on our way out. The water in the Pantanal is still going up. The animals are moving around trying to get to higher ground.

Pantanal in january - 2010 at the Lodge Rio Clarinho

2010-01-17T04:33:00.000-08:00

I took katy and her boyfriend from UK on a wildlife tour and their target was to see Giant Otters. Before getting to the lodge we saw hundreds of bird species including the Hyacinth Macaws and Jabiru Storks. Capybaras, deer and Collared Peccari were also ticked off from the list. We were at Pousada Rio Clarinho and from there we had a rowing boat to get to the place where the otters usually hang around , but I only found old signs and I noticed that they went downstream because the water level at the otters’s burrow went up it go submerged. On the next day we succeeded , we saw an otter for 2 seconds, then went piranha fishing and cought our dinner, but , actually we had them for lunch. The day stared very early on the following day, we went on a hiking trip and we got to see some capuchin monkeys before returning to the lodge for breakfast. In January, we use horse to get somewhere wich is difficult to get on foot. In the afternoon we went on the boat ride again as we were with our eyes peeled all the time while riding for the otters, every tree trunk sticking out the water looked like one of them. After several minutes riding on the boat we got to find the otters, they were amazing and interacting to us and the mission was accomplished with this pack of otters. The Giant Otter is terristorial, dependent on aquatic environment, diurnal and considered sami-aquatic. Their burrows are built in the banks for selter.
We got to show Katy and Mr. H a big troop of capuchin and howler monkeys, we watched the sunset before we returning to the lodge. On the way to Cuiabá we saw one more mammal species, the Coatis, there were at least 50 of them crossing the road. I hope to see Katy and H in Cuiabá again for the Football Worldcup in 2014.

The Giant Otter is an especially noisy animal, with a complex repertoire of vocalizations. All otters produce vocalizations, but by frequency and volume, the Giant Otter may be the most vocal.

Yacare caiman are also known as the piranha caiman, owing to its habit of eating piranhas, they also eat aquatic snails, snakes and other fish. Yacare caiman construct mound nests into which the females lay their eggs during the rainy season, the moisture will help to compost the nest to reise the heat.

The diet of these rails is omnivorous, being known to include a wide variety of plant and animal matter, including seeds, leaves and fruits of both aquatic and terrestrial plants, as well as insects, frogs, snails , spiders, arthworms and fish. It has also been known to eat the eggs and young of other birds.

Jaguar

2010-01-11T14:24:00.001-08:00

Pantanal - group of italians

2010-01-11T12:53:00.000-08:00

My second tour of 2010, was with an Italian group. The were 5 of them , the Mr. Zap ,Alessandro,Carla, Francesco and Ursula. I have taken them to Chapada dos Guimarães for one day one night then we went to the Pantanal. We have seen plenty of animals as always and we stayed at the Farm Caranda Fundo, this is an option they wanted to be in order to see the Pantanal in its traditional way …for example spending the night in a hammock and wake up listening to the wild animals when they are most active without artificial interferences. The italian group didn’t want to leave the Pantanal , they wanted to stay there for a longer time to appreciate it more, here the people are really friendly. We have done the most usual activities such as hiking, sunrise boating / walking, boat ride, horseback riding,cycling and night safari. Hyacinth Macaws are the most appreciated bird in the Pantanal 99% of the this kind of Macaw leaves in the Pantanal, almost pantanal's endemic species. Capybaras, Chaco Chachalacas, Deer, Crab-eating Fox and successful pira fishing were the activities they liked. The group was very friendly and I will meet them again next year, they will come to see the dry season.

Montain bike ride is an option and it is also good way to discover the Pantanal lowlands.

While driving the transpantaneira road we had a break for eating some bananas.

We were hiking in the forest to get to the higher ground to try to find some animals that are marrooned .

Termites are helping to dicompose the organic matters, you will often find alots of the their mounds as you drive down the transpananeira road.

Great Rhea... Rhea americana our biggest bird in the Pantanal, it is fhightless , but it can run as fast as 60km/hrs.

First tour in 2010 with our company

2010-01-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

Jon , Christine, and Stacey were the first 2010 visitors to the pantanal with our company. The year started really well for our work. In this time of the year ( January) the Pantanal is really interesting to see a great number of animal species, you don’t see animals every where, because they are on the higher ground covered with forests, it make a bit more difficult to find them. During the flood season , the Pantanal is basically an archipelago and lot of the animals become marooned, specially the onces that are arborial, not adapted to swim. In this time of the year , we find the most of the animals on the road at night doing the night safari. If you are lucky and if you are ready to do alots of activities , you will see many animal species, for that you will need to get wet feet, we will provide you a leather boots as long as it fits on you. It does get wet inside, but after the walk, it roughly takes an hour to get dry again. On the tour we got to see so many animals as you can see some of the pictures here on this blog. We went piranha fishing down stream of Rio Clarinho to get to an area where the water still not very black, the black waters from the flooded forest after alots of rains flow into the river with the natural composted matters from the leaves that deciduous trees had shed during our winter. But the chance of catching a piranha still very big.

The Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. It is the longest member of the Mustelidae, or weasel family, a globally successful group of predators. Unusually for a mustelid, the Giant Otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. The groups are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extremely cohesive and cooperative. Although generally peaceful, the species is territorial and aggression has been observed between groups. The Giant Otter is diurnal, being active exclusively during daylight hours. It can be easily throughout Pantanal but all photos we have were taken on ground of Rio Clarinho and Porto Jofre Region where we also develope our tours. Giant River Otter; a highly sociable animal who hunts and plays in packs. Their loud grunting and chirping calls generally mean you will hear them before you see them. These graceful creatures are truly wonderful animals to watch.

Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus), or Hyacinthine Macaw, is the largest macaw and the largest flying parrot species in the world, though the flightless Kakapo of New Zealand can outweigh it at up to 3.5 kg. In terms of length it is larger than any other species of parrot. There are about 6.000 macaws left in whole world, we see them in every trip to the Pantanal. The number of macaws is increasing.

During the hippie era in the United States, the Bus became a major counterculture symbol. There were several reasons: The van could carry a number of people plus camping gear and cooking supplies, extra clothing, do-it-yourself carpenter's tools, etc. BUT, the Kombi still being produced in its classic form and design with a new name “Totalflex” and some interior was changed to accommodate a new 1.4L water cooled engine that will meet new Brazilian emissions laws to reduce pollution in effect. Longitudinal, 4 Cylinders, Inline2 Valves /cylinder1390 cm³ (1.4L) DisplacementCompression Ratio 11:1HP at 4800rpm, 78 (gas)HP at 4800rpm, 80 (alc)Multi point sequential fuel injection.

The Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria) is a large stork found in the Americas from Mexico to Argentina, except west of the Andes. It is most common in the Pantanal region of Brazil and the Eastern Chaco region of Paraguay. It is the only member of the genus Jabiru. The name comes from the Tupi-Guaraní language and means "swollen neck".

The Amazon Kingfisher, Chloroceryle amazona, is a resident breeding bird in the lowlands of the Pantanal. Records from Trinidad are thought to be erroneous.
This large kingfisher breeds by streams. The unlined nest is in a horizontal tunnel made in a river bank, and up to 1.6 m long and 10 cm wide. The female lays three, sometimes four, white eggs. In January , they get crazy, their nests are getting submerged, because of the flood season of the Pantanal. The raining season in the Pantanal is from November to April.

Howler monkeys (genus Alouatta monotypic in subfamily Alouattinae) are among the largest of the New World monkeys. Nine species are currently recognised. These monkeys are native to South and Central Amarica forests.

The Black-tailed Marmoset (Callithrix melanura) is a New World monkey that lives in Brazil, south and east of the Amazon basin as well as Pantanal. Compared to other marmosets, they have a very isolated habitat.

Sunsets in the Pantanal has light effects and it is fast, you will need to concentrate on picture, otherwise you will miss it.

The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), it is the largest living rodent in the world.

The total number of piranha species is unknown and new species continue to be described. In 1988, it was stated that fewer than a half of the approximately 60 nominal species of piranhas at the time were valid. More recently (in 2003), one author recognized a total of 38 or 39 species, although the validity of some taxa remains questionable. This catching took us few minute.

Caiman exist within the Brazilian Pantanal, representing what is quite possibly the largest single crocodilian population on Earth. As a medium-small sized crocodilian, most adult individuals grow to roughly 2 or 2.5 meters in length, with the occasional 3 meter individual (there are reports of occasional 4 meter individuals within the Pantanal, but this is yet to be verified.) Their smaller size makes them a favorite prey of the jaguar and Anaconda. This species diet consists primarily of fish (especially piranha) and birds, with the occasional capybara being taken by larger adults. In general, all species of caiman (the exception being the large Black Caiman) are incapable of seriously harming or consuming humans.
The Marsh Deer, (Blastocerus dichotomus), is the largest deer species from South America reaching a length of 2 meters and a height of 1.2 meters at the rump. It is found all over Pantanal.

The Tropical Screech-owl (Megascops choliba) is a small species of owl in the Strigidae family. We usually see them during our night walks.

Pantanal Nature - Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

2009-12-24T11:12:00.000-08:00

Pantanal Tours out of Cuiabá - Jaguars overlaping

2009-12-19T20:46:00.000-08:00

On this tour, I took 3 visitors from Slovakia that were very interested in all types of wildlife but specially reptiles. The first reptiles we saw were the Paraguayan Caimans, Amazon Whiptail Lizards and Giant Tegu Lizard and others. The trophy for them was the 2-meter-Yellow -Anaconda. We did see a Coral Snake,Black-skinned Parrot Snake, False Jararaca and other vine snakes. Yellow-footed Tortoise, Red-footed Tortoise were found nearly every day. November is good season to observe tortoises due to start of raining season, they are moving to reach the higher ground for safety. Turttles live in the water and tortoises live on ground on ground. On the tour we did see 5 diferent jaguars, 3 of them were found along the river bank and other 2 jaguars we encountered on the road while driving to the lodge doing night safari with our spotlight. we were resting on the boat under the shadow of the trees, I heard a roaring sound, but couldn't figure out what it was, then I started paying attention on it. After while we realized it was a jaguar, then I saw a some movements on forbs and grasses, a big jaguar was coming trough and my Milan, Laco and Ana were ready to start shooting the mighty cat, there were 3 jaguars all together, a female and 2 males having a competiting for mating. One of the male was an old jaguar, the other one was yonung.

We company offers jaguar tours, but we never guarantee you will see any animal species, but we do want to show these animals , because it requires more knowledge for us every time we see a jaguar, this is a perfect time to learn about this elusive creature wich is the biggest feline of the New World. I havent' taken any picture of this big cats, because the jaguars we have seen were moving all the time and I was driving the boat. Thanks to Milan for the pictures, other wise my blog would have just comments. Success in 2009 in the jaguar tours in the Pantanal. For next year 2010, I will be ready again to take people on the tours to spot jaguars in the Pantanal, This is a really hobby and work at the time.

Jaguar picture Picture from Milan Kanya , it is a really stunning cat , it always nice to see it in the wilderness.

Lesser-yellow-headed Vulture drying up its wings along the transpantaneira road.

Jabiru Stork the bir symbol of the Pantanal and the biggest flying bird.

We at the tower looking for monkeys as well as snakes. This also a good way to understant how the landscape looks like from above.

Pantanal Jaguar Safari with Pantanal Nature

2009-12-19T20:10:00.000-08:00

I 've guided the biologists John, Cindy, Mark and Emily on day 6 day tour to the Pantanal in order to find the most wildlife as possible. We have found over 200 bird species, 4 Tapirs,Giant Anteater,Giant Otters and others. The itinerary was tailored to wildlife watch and we were most of time in the nature searching for something. Every bio was documented in order to publish an article about wildlife in US. As they bought a jaguar tour , we went looking for it and found one, it was not easy to find it , we spend more than 20 hours on boat before we found the mighty cat, the jaguars seemed that it was on vacation, but we know the jaguars are on vacations every day in their territory, we just need patience and nature will let you see what is available. On our morning boat we saw the jaguar crossig the river , but no picture, because we didn't want to scare the jaguar off as it was so calm while swimming. When the jaguar got on the river bank we approched and started taking pictures, it was so cool and one more happy group.

Pantanal Photo Safari

2009-12-19T15:43:00.000-08:00

The participants of the tour were Michal, Lenka and Steve .

A tailor-made tour for photographer to shoot the wild animals with their massive cameras and the first day we just went on a terresterial safari on the famous mator-way,( the transpantaneira)

On second day, we went looking for the jaguars , but no success, but we were in the nature and anything can happen as i did happen to us, we only found the the Pantanal's big cat on our third day and spent alo of time with spetacular male jaguar.

we 've spent 4 hours observing the big cat and waiting for the perfect light to take the sharpest pictures as planned. It was a great, the tchecs were happy and I was happy too to have a satisfied phtographers with good photos. In case you want to see more information on jaguars and available tours for 2010, take your time and read our jaguar safari tours at http://www.pantanalnature.com.br/ and www.photonature.cz .

Aventura e Ação Brazilian Magazine

2009-12-19T15:33:00.000-08:00

I took 2 professional photographers from the brazilian magazine'' AVENTURA & AÇÃO" to the Pantanal, the region of Porto Jofre. We stayed at Puma Lodge and it has a small swimming pool and a restaurant which serves good food. The Lodge provides an excellent base for our jaguar tracking tours in the “Meeting of the Waters” State Park. Rare hyacinth macaws, great horned owls and other interesting wildlife are seen here daily. From the Lodge it is a short drive to Porto Jofre for a daytime boat ride to see where the big cats live and observe other wildlife. At night time many nocturnal animals can be spotted close to the Lodge. See their work at http://www.aventuraeacao.com.br/ . The author, Mr. Pedro Cattony is writing about great destinations in Brazil, off the beaten track.

A Pantanal tour with a french couple

2009-12-19T15:24:00.000-08:00

I have taken a french couple on a private photography tour and they have really motivated me to switch into french language, so from now on, the text will be in french.Beaucoup de gens que je guide ne viennent voir que les jaguars dans le Pantanal. Cependant, ils sont également surpris par la diversité de la faune.

Essayant de les amener vers les meilleurs endroits du Pantanal pour voir les animaux les plus rares, nous avons vu 3 jaguars différents. Les photos ont été prises durant l'expédition. En effet, sur notre bateau nous avions au moins 4 appareils photographiques prêts ainsi qu'une caméra vidéo HD. Bien qu'Eric et Nath ont déjà parcouru une grande partie du monde pour voir la faune, ils quittent le Brésil émerveillés et satisfaits d'avoir vu ce qu'ils cherchaient.J'ai vraiment apprécié d'avoir passé 9 jours avec des personnes aussi motivées que moi par les "gros chats" et la faune, une expédition qui a commencé dans le Pantanal et fini à Chapada dos Guimaraes. ps: un couple belge m'a aidé pour la traduction.

Tours from Cuiabá departs daily with Pantanal Nature

2009-12-19T15:01:00.000-08:00

I went to the airport to pick up Richard and Kris de Vries, the arrived in different airplanes, then we went to the Hotel Ramos, they had a night saty there. I took a little rest , because I had to return to airport to pick up Mr. Niels to join the expediton to the Pantanal on the next day. Richards is australian, Kris is Belgian and Niels is from Denamark…what a multi-cultural group !

We stayed at the lodges Rio Clarinho, Puma and rio Claro. At Rio Clarinho, we took a rowing boat to listen to the sound of magical bird’s sinphony as well as to observe the monkeys and we return to the lodge after seeing the sunset from the top of a 20mts tower at Rio Clarinho Lodge.

From Puma lodge, we drove down the Transpantaneira road to the very end and took our safari boat out on a trip in search for jaguars and we succeed. This year, I have taken many visitors on jaguar safari tours, so far I had 100 % success on finding them. I have seen this jaguar in one of the water ways in the Three-Brothers-River region and here is the picture. On this trip we only saw one jaguar, but we saw it. Roarrrrrrrrr.

Pantanal Wildlife Safari Tours - Pantanal Nature

2009-12-19T07:28:00.000-08:00

We went up stream and saw nothing, but on this tour we saw 2 jaguars and François and Françoise went back to France very happy with over 1.600 jaguar pictures. Keep following this blog and know about my next trip with a couple from Us and one man Denmark. more information on jaguar tours www.pantanalnature.com.br

Our boat was anchored about 60mts away from this jaguar and we can still see the jaguar on the photo very well. Even when you are on the boat, it is good to have your rice bag or a tripod, because you never know when it will be useful...maybe, it will be another mighty cat yawning at the next curve of the river.
Jaguar is the biggest brazilian feline and really good swimmer, it feeds maily on caimans, capybaras and so on. Hey, the jaguar is laying down in a very slow motion... ( get a shot).
It was really defenitily and good day for wildlife spotting, so far we only had 4 hrs on the boat.

In the Pantanal, the Meeting of the Waters State Park is the best place to find jaguars in the wild. One of their favourite haunts, especially after they have had a hard night of hunting, is in a clearing at the river´s edge.

Here they like to bask in the sun and rest after the night´s activities. I can identify individual jaguars by the spot pattern in the middle of their forehead. More jaguars can be seen in this region of the Pantanal than anywhere else in the world.

This is because they come to the water to drink and to hunt their favourite prey such as caiman and capybara and other large mammals. In the Dry Season I take weekly tours of up to 4 tourists in my own boat. This is especially good at navigating small, overgrown waterways. Over the years I have built up a lot of experience in spotting jaguars in the wild, but I am always learning. ouw webpage http://www.pantanalnature.com.br/

Pantanal Wildlife Safari tours

2009-12-16T16:48:00.000-08:00

In this blog of Pantanal Nature will be a complete bulletin with information on wildlife of the Pantanal. The post will added weekly starting from January to December 2010. Pantanal Nature - Wildlife Tours . See more picture with Cool Travel .