Brazil wildfires take over jaguar harboring Encontro das Aguas state park in Pantanal

Wildfires have taken over Brazil's Encontro das Aguas state park in Pantanal, located at border of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul states.  park kwn for its jaguar population and firefighters, environmentalists and ranchers in world’s largest tropical wetlands are struggling to save animals and ir homeland.

As per reports, for some time  rivers helped in keeping fire under control but as wind took over, wildfires have spre across park and have been burning for over a week w. 

Wildfires sweep into Brazil state park 

As blaze rs on, worst seems yet to come. Mato Grosso firefighters’ spokeswoman Lt. Col. Sheila Sebalhos said, “ forecast isn’t good. High speeds of those winds that change direction many times throughout day are favoring rapid spre (of fire)”.

According to an international wild cat conservation organization Panra, about 200 jaguars have been affected due to wildfires; many have been heavily injured or displaced and some have even died. Pantanal houses thousands of plant and animal species, including 159 mammals, and while it is located majorly in Brazil and wetlands stretch into Bolivia and Paraguay. As per reports, fires here are mostly unintentional, unlike Amazon where ranchers often use fire to clear brush. 

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According to Brazil defence ministry, 173 members of armed forces have been dispatched to Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul states. About 139 firefighters are also reported to have been sent to tame blaze.

In a live brocast on Facebook, President Jair Bolsonaro said, “I started to suffer criticism because Pantanal is on fire. You can imagine difficulty of fighting fire in that area”. 

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On or hand in United States, California wildfires have been burning for more than three weeks w. As per reports, more wildfires have also taken or parts of US as far as Washington. In a ray of hope, fires has w smooned in Coloro and Montana due to a dramatic intrusion of polar air.

Earlier, United States National Wear Service said, “ significantly colder air mass is helping reduce critical fire conditions across West, however most of West coastline and jacent counties have Red Flag warnings in effect"

(WIth AP Inputs)

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