In the pantanau region of central-west Brazil, a world-class tropical swamp, ongoing fires are destroying the ecosystem to catastrophic levels.

There are also warnings that as the habitats of rare species are narrowing, they are on the verge of extinction.

According to Brazilian media on the 17th of local time, fires began to increase rapidly in Pantanau from last month, and even this month, the momentum has not declined and is causing great damage.

Based on data from the National Space Research Institute of Brazil, between the 1st and the 15th of this month, 3,121 fires occurred in Pantanau, almost twice as many as 1,690 fires in a month last August.

The number of fires that occurred until the 15th of this year was 7,339, up 130% from the same period last year.

Prior to this, 1,684 fires were reported last month.

It is 3.4 times that of last July, and it was the highest as of July since the Brazilian National Space Research Institute began its investigation in 1998.


Environmental experts pointed out that fire and smoke in Pantanau are facing extinction, with rare species such as the'blue-headed macaw' being expelled from their habitat.

The Sao Franciscu du Perigara farm, where 15% of the blue-headed macaws live in the Pantanau area, has been destroyed by fire, experts say.

In addition, monkeys and reptiles are found throughout the Pantanau area.

The Brazilian media reported that the body of animals such as deer are being found burned.

The total area of ​​Pantanau is about 220,000 km2, similar to that of the Korean Peninsula, of which 80% belongs to Brazil and the rest spans Bolivia and Paraguay.

Pantanau is regarded as a treasure trove of ecosystems comparable to the Amazon rainforest.

Experts say the increase in fires is caused by the prolonged drought and the continuing dry weather in the Pantanau region, where rainfall this year is only half of the previous year.

(Photo = Brazilian News Portal UOL, Yonhap News)