The Pantanal is South America’s largest tropical wetland and an important habitat for jaguars. It is a vast seasonally flooded plain spread mainly across Brazil, with smaller portions in Bolivia and Paraguay.
The wetland’s character changes dramatically through the year. Heavy rains flood grasslands, forests, lagoons, and river channels, creating a rich aquatic ecosystem; during the dry season, water retreats and wildlife gathers around remaining pools and waterways. This annual pulse supports fish, caimans, capybaras, giant otters, and enormous numbers of birds.
Jaguars are among the Pantanal’s most celebrated predators. The region’s open terrain and dense river network make them easier to observe than in many other tropical forests, especially along rivers. They hunt fish, caimans, capybaras, and other prey, and are strong swimmers.
The Pantanal is sometimes confused with the Amazon because both are major South American wildlife regions. The Amazon is primarily a rainforest system, while the Pantanal is defined by seasonal flooding and a mosaic of wetlands, savannas, and forests. The two regions are ecologically connected through river systems.