The Pantanal

Each season, Bluedot Living will feature a photo essay by Yasmin Namini, a former Chief Consumer Officer at the New York Times, who is now traveling the world taking photographs. At Bluedot, we believe that celebrating the Earth’s most enchanting creatures, cultures, and landscapes will inspire us to help preserve them.

The Pantanal, a breathtaking region spanning parts of Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay, is known as the world’s largest tropical wetland and one of extensive flooded grasslands. This rich mosaic of flooded savannas and forests is home to an incredible array of wildlife including hundreds of bird species, numerous reptiles, and a variety of mammals, most notably the elusive jaguar – a paradise for wildlife photographers.

Despite its UNESCO World Heritage status, the Pantanal faces threats from deforestation, unsustainable farming, and climate change. With local and international help, efforts are ongoing to protect this vital but fragile ecosystem.

I visited the Brazilian Pantanal in November for the first time. From the piercing gaze of jaguars to the graceful flutter of macaw wings, this month’s photos and videos aim to showcase the raw beauty and exceptional wildlife of the Pantanal, as well as highlighting the need to preserve such irreplaceable natural treasures. Join me in exploring the profound wonders of the Pantanal.

Lazy Morning Hangout
Nestled on a sturdy branch along the riverbank, this jaguar enjoys a relaxing early morning. Blending in with nature’s colors, it's an ideal spot for some peace and safety, and the perfect vantage point to survey its surroundings.
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS R5m2; 280mm; 1/1,250 sec; f/7.1; ISO 1,000

Jaguar of the Brazilian Pantanal (Video)
Jaguars are the largest big cats in the Americas and the third largest globally, after tigers and lions. Unlike many other felines, jaguars are adept swimmers, often residing near the rivers and lakes of the Pantanal where they hunt aquatic animals like caiman and fish. In Brazil and throughout many indigenous cultures in the Americas, the jaguar is revered as a symbol of power, ferocity, and the mysteries of the jungle. Although the Pantanal provides a relatively stable habitat for jaguars, they remain listed as near threatened due to habitat loss and poaching elsewhere. Conservation efforts in the Pantanal are vital for sustaining their global population. The Brazilian Pantanal serves as one of the best places in the world to observe these magnificent cats in the wild. This video captures a male jaguar as he prowls and swims along the riverbank, possibly in pursuit of his next meal.
Equipment, settings: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

Jaguar Hideaway
Tucked away in the dense grass near the river's edge, a jaguar mother and her cub enjoy some downtime. These majestic cats blend right into their environment. Hidden in the tall grass and with mom’s watchful eye, they find their own little safe spot away from the rest of the world.
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS R5m2; 500mm; 1/640 sec; f/7.1; ISO 12,800

Catch of the Day
Giant otters, known as the “river wolves” of the Brazilian Pantanal, are as charismatic as they are intriguing. Living up to their name, they are the world’s largest otter species, reaching up to six feet in length. Highly sociable, giant otters form family groups called romps, often led by a dominant breeding pair, and comprised of up to 20 members. They are remarkably vocal, using a complex array of sounds to coordinate activities among the romp. Their diet mainly consists of fish, consuming up to 10% of their body weight daily. Sadly, giant otters are classified as endangered. They were once hunted extensively for their pelts and now face threats from habitat destruction and conflict with humans This image captures a giant otter relishing a freshly caught fish.
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS R5m2; 420mm; 1/4,000 sec; f/5; ISO 1,000

Family Hideaway
Giant otters are known for their strong family bonds. Both parents, along with older siblings, help in raising the young, teaching them to swim and hunt. In this image, two giant otter cubs snuggle with their adult guardians in the safety of their cozy den near the river’s edge. Cleverly camouflaged by the brush, it’s a perfect spot for keeping predators at bay.
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS R5m2; 363mm; 1/800 sec; f/7.1; ISO 6,400

Unlikely River Companions
In the bustling waterways of Brazil’s Pantanal, capybaras – the world's largest rodents – coexist peacefully alongside caimans. Despite their size, capybaras are gentle giants, and the caimans in this scene are more interested in fish than capybara. Both species keep a wary eye out for jaguars, their common predator, making their fear of each other minimal.
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS R5m2; 100mm; 1/2,500 sec; f/5; ISO 400

Unlikely River Companions (Video)
This video captures the harmonious coexistence of capybaras and caimans, highlighting the intricate balance of the Pantanal's ecosystem.
Equipment, settings: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

Morning Mealtime
Giant anteaters are one of the more peculiar and fascinating inhabitants of the Pantanal. Despite their large size, giant anteaters have no teeth. But with a two-foot-long sticky tongue, they're perfectly built for scooping up ants and termites, devouring thousands in just one meal. Giant anteaters are solitary by nature, relying on their acute sense of smell to locate food due to their poor eyesight. Their distinctive snout and bushy tail help them blend into the landscape. Sadly, they face threats from habitat loss, roadkill, and hunting, making their status as a vulnerable species particularly concerning. This image was captured just after sunrise as this giant anteater was busily breakfasting in the grass.
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS R5m2; 238mm; 1/160 sec; f/7.1; ISO 1,600

Morning Mealtime (Video)
In this video, a giant anteater meanders through the grass feasting on a breakfast of ants and termites.
Equipment, settings: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

The Happy Couple
The Brazilian Pantanal is a sanctuary for several species of macaws, each adding vibrant splashes of color and sound to the region's diverse ecosystem. This image captures a heartwarming glimpse of two Red-and-Green Macaws. Known for their striking red, green, and blue colors, these macaws are highly social and intelligent birds, often forming lifelong bonds with their mates. They communicate through raucous calls, which can be heard over long distances. They also play a crucial role in their ecosystem, helping to disperse seeds as they feast on a variety of fruits and nuts. The macaws of the Pantanal are not only a delight for bird watchers and photographers, but also vital to the region's ecological balance.
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS R5m2; 500mm; 1/640 sec; f/7.1; ISO 1,250

Winged Brilliance
This image showcases the vibrant plumage of a Red-and-Green Macaw’s wings as it takes off from a tree. Macaws embody the spirit of the wild, thriving in the dense canopies of the Pantanal. Many macaw species face threats from habitat destruction and the illegal pet trade. Conservation efforts in the Pantanal include protecting nesting sites and educating locals and tourists about the importance of these magnificent birds.
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS R5m2; 420mm; 1/6,400 sec; f/4; ISO 4,000

Three Blue Beauties
The Hyacinth Macaw is the largest of all flying parrot species in the world. They are also one of the most endangered. Cherished for their striking cobalt blue feathers and bright yellow rings around their eyes, they are a beautiful spectacle in the sky. The tree these three Hyacinth Macaws are aiming for is more than just a perch. It's crucial for their nesting and social gatherings. Spotting Hyacinth Macaws in the wild is very special because they are so rare and hard to find. Their specific habitat needs, as well as past human pet trade pressures, have impacted their numbers greatly.
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS R5m2; 420mm; 1/1,000 sec; f/4; ISO 1,600

Blue Winged Splendor
Caught mid-flutter, this stunning Hyacinth Macaw shows off its magnificent wings and tail feathers. The brightest and largest of all parrot species, this macaw is a burst of blue in the green canopies of its habitat. Macaws hold a significant place in local culture and are often featured in indigenous art and folklore, symbolizing beauty, intelligence, and the vibrant life of the rainforests.
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS R5m2; 270mm; 1/640 sec; f/7.1; ISO 800

Birds of the Pantanal
My journey through the Pantanal was enriched by the presence of numerous exquisite bird species, each adding its own color and song to the landscape. This collage offers just a glimpse into the vast variety of avian life thriving in Brazil's Pantanal.
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS R5m2; multiple camera settings

All photographs and videos copyright Yasmin Namini.