Pantanal wetlands: A paradise to protect

Wild beauties: A pair of jaguars on the shores of the Paraguay River, in Caceres, Brazil, the gateway to the Pantanal. The freshwater wetland system is a stunning biodiversity sanctuary - AFP photos

The Pantanal is a fragile ecological wonder in need of management.

A dozen rivers flood some 80% of the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetlands which stretches across western Brazil and into Bolivia and Paraguay, from the start of the rainy season in November. They course though a region which is a magnet for intrepid tourists, including those who love to fish.