I recently returned home from a 12 day Earthwatch volunteer expedition to the Pantanal region in Brazil, working on a bird, amphibian and reptile project.  There is no other place in the world like the Pantanal, a vast wetland wilderness in the heart of Brazil. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its abundant, diverse and highly visible wildlife, like capybaras, marsh deer, caiman, jabiru storks and hyacinth macaws. The flat, open landscape consists of a wide range of tropical forest, a variety of savanna areas, a complex river network and the largest expanse of tropical wetlands in the world.

Today, the Pantanal is faced with many threats and for this reason the Wildlife of Brazil’s Pantanal project was created to put the sustainability of the Pantanal within reach of concerned people from both the local population and the global community. This initiative brings communities and leading scientists together to conserve the largest expanse of tropical wetlands in the world.  The goal of the project is to help local farmers and communities understand the varied aspects of their ecosystem and to create sustainable management and conservation plans.

The wild brumbies of Campo Lourdes



Fazenda Campo Lourdes - 5,500 hectare cattle ranch in Brazil's Pantanal region



Thank goodness for the pool - ideal after a hot days work on the farm



The barefoot cowboy.....a local tradition




Some of the many of Brahman cattle on Campo Lourdes.  There are 55 cattle for every person in the Pantanal




This horse is being ridden for the first time - game!



The rickety old bridge we would pass across 4 times a day...needless to say it needed some patch-up work



The hyacinth macaws just outside the dining room




Spring time - the stunning pink bursting flowers  against the crystal clear blue sky



The many rustic huts dotted around the ranch, either acting as a shed or housing for the cowboys



Reggie, our fantastic Professor, removing a bird from the mist net



Amazing views in all directions and so peaceful.  No mobile phones or internet - bliss




Tape up tight to keep those damn ticks away - not a good look!



Collecting the frogs, lizards and snakes from the pit traps.



Weighing the frogs we pulled from the traps



One of the local frogs we found in the trap - a P. Fuscomaculatus to be precise!



Wow, what an amazing sunset



Another local keeping a close eye on us



Fishing for pirania to pass the time



Check out that storm coming towards us...it didn't cool things down though.  The average temperature was 39 degrees



Yet an another amazing sunset at Fazenda Santa Maria



Sunday afternoon the cowboys head off to do some fishing - cool car!



Edson, one of the cowboys "breaking-in" a horse



YUM - BBQ Pantanal style



Clearing the river from the water lillies so the boat can get through.......the waters are alive with caiman, piranias , giant otters and stingrays!!



Our last night in the Pantanal watching football: Brazil v Argentina.... can anyone spot the TV?