"This is the first time so many crocodiles have gathered"
Pantanau, ecosystem threatened by drought and fires
Hundreds of crocodiles gathered in a single waterhole in the Necol?ndia region of Central-West Brazil. Photo by Brazil news portal UOL.
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Crocodiles living in the Pantanal, the world's largest wetland located in central-west Brazil, are facing the threat of mass death.
On the 18th (local time), according to Brazilian news portal UOL and others, hundreds of crocodiles were spotted gathered in a waterhole in the Necol?ndia region of Mato Grosso do Sul state on the 15th by farmers.
Regarding this, one farmer said, "I have never seen so many crocodiles gathered in a waterhole," adding, "Due to prolonged drought, the water has dried up, and continuous fires seem to have driven the crocodiles to this place."
Hundreds of crocodiles gathered in a single waterhole in the Necol?ndia region of Central-West Brazil. Photo by Brazil news portal UOL.
The farmer said, "This might be the last waterhole," and warned that if this situation continues, it will be difficult for the crocodiles to survive.
The Pantanal Agricultural Research Corporation research team is investigating the reasons why the crocodiles have gathered like this.
Experts commented, "It is common for animals to gather in specific places in search of water and food during severe droughts," but also noted, "It is unusual in the Pantanal for so many crocodiles to be entangled in one place."
The Pantanal is considered a treasure trove of ecosystems where various wildlife live due to its inaccessibility to humans. However, its ecosystem is now in crisis due to the worst drought and a surge in fires caused by hot and dry weather, the worst in nearly 50 years.
The Pantanal, a world-renowned tropical wetland in the Central-West region of Brazil, has been experiencing the worst fire disaster on record from last July until recently. Photo by Globo TV, Brazil.
According to data from the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), there were 21,084 fires in this area from January to October this year, far exceeding the 12,536 fires recorded during the same period in 2005, marking the highest number ever.
The total area of the Pantanal is about 220,000㎢, similar to the Korean Peninsula, with about 80% of the area belonging to Brazil and the rest spanning Bolivia and Paraguay.
The Pantanal is known to be home to over 3,500 species of plants, more than 550 species of birds, about 120 species of mammals, around 260 species of freshwater fish, and approximately 80 species of reptiles.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that in this area, fires deliberately set for securing pastureland and farmland for livestock breeding and illegal mining have spread into large-scale fires causing significant damage, taking advantage of the Brazilian authorities' lax enforcement as they prioritize development over environmental protection.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
