The flames give way to an open-air tomb in the Pantanal

Aquidauana (Brazil), Nov 21 (EFE) - Alligators, piranhas, snakes, toads... Fires in the Pantanal have transformed large areas of the largest wetland on the planet into an open-air tomb where Brazil's Environmental Police are now searching for signs of animal life. After suffering the worst fires for the month of November, with almost 4,000 fires, a historic record for that period, the intermittent rains of the last day have given a respite to the biome, but have exposed the magnitude of the disaster. Ash fields stretch as far as the eye can see in many areas.

Camera: Isaac Fontana and Carlos Meneses.

FOOTAGE: BURNED AREAS OF THE BRAZILIAN PANTANAL, REMAINS OF DEAD ANIMALS, SURVIVING ANIMALS AND STATEMENTS BY CAPTAIN JORGE MARTINS JUNIOR, OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MILITARY POLICE OF MATO GROSSO DO SOUL, ERNESTO COUTINHO, MANAGER OF THE PASSO DE LONTRA LODGE AND MARIA APARECIDA, INHABITANT OF THE PANTANAL.

TRADUCTION:

Captain Jorge Martins Júnior, of the Environmental Military Police of Mato Grosso do Sul:

"Recently we have made some rescues. We rescued a turtle, close to the river banks, probably trying to escape from the fires. We also rescued a toucan that was looking for a safe place in front of the flames." "As the vegetation is burning, which is their natural habitat, the animals seek refuge in high places without fire. They see that the roads are places where there is no fire and car accidents are happening there. The vehicle passes and runs over the animals".

Ernesto Coutinho, manager of the Pousada 'Passo do Lontra':

"Each passing year has been hotter than the previous one. And the fires rarely hit us in consecutive years. There were fires one year and then two or three years passed and there were the next, but now practically every year we are having fires sequentially, unhappily."

Maria Aparecida, Pantanal inhabitant:

"These fires are dangerous and can come here (her house) because the area is burning a lot and there is a lot of smoke.