Pantanal is Portuguese for ‘swamp’, a simple name for a spectacular region. These are the world’s greatest wetlands, right in the heart of South America.
This ancient landscape is the size of Great Britain and is a sanctuary for giant otters, hyacinth macaws, anteaters, porcupines, armadillos, caimans, and other exotic animals – many of whom are critically endangered elsewhere.
So why do they thrive in Pantanal ? For the first time, this film unravels the mystery. The yearly cycle of droughts and floods creates a unique mosaic of rivers, lakes, swamps, gallery forests, and the savannah- like Cerrados. Gradually, the film reveals the various surprising factors that enable the wild habitat of Pantanal to flourish – but it also reminds us why this natural paradise is once more under threat.
