The Pantanal is the world’s largest fresh-water wetland, the vast majority of which is found within Brazil, but also Bolivia and Paraguay. It is a mosaic of grasslands, woodlands, rivers and standing water bodies, and each habitat is home to a different assemblage of wildlife. Whilst there are virtually no unique species found in the Pantanal, its diverse array is thanks to its neighbouring Amazonian and Cerrado biomes.

During the wet seasons, rivers burst their banks and inundate the woodlands and grasslands, leaving but a few places high and dry. During the dry seasons, water bodies dry up and the dwindling water sources draw the wildlife to them. Despite such a difficult environment for human settlement, over 98% of the Pantanal is privately owned by more than 2500 fazendas (ranches) and approximately 8 million head of cattle. This occupation has come with habitat alteration and conflict with the native wildlife, particularly the jaguar and other carnivores. Despite this, much of the native fauna continue to thrive and the Pantanal remains a wildlife paradise, hosting the highest density of wildlife found anywhere in South America.