Current:Home > MyNearly 17 million animals died in wildfires in Brazil's wetlands last year-InfoLens
Nearly 17 million animals died in wildfires in Brazil's wetlands last year
View Date:2024-12-23 11:56:45
Nearly 17 million vertebrate creatures — animals like snakes, small birds and rodents — are estimated to have been killed throughout the wildfires in the Pantanal region of Brazil in 2020, according to a new study published in Scientific Reports this week.
Despite Pantanal encompassing the world's largest tropical wetlands and flooded grasslands, increasing temperatures and ongoing draught due to climate change have led to rampant wildfires, destroying the habitats of millions of animals and killing an estimated 16.952 million animals, the scientists say.
"During the last few years we have been witnessing an astonishing increase in intensity and frequency of wildfires, leading to a globally unprecedented amount of burnt area," they wrote.
For example, in 2019, fires burned nearly 6,300 square miles of the Brazilian portion of the Pantanal. In 2020, that number jumped to more than 15,000 square miles.
The scientists aimed to calculate how many vertebrates died directly from the wildfires, which doesn't include larger animals like jaguars and panthers that may have died later as a result of burns or destroyed habitat and lack of food. They collected data in the field, accounting for the number of carcasses found up to 48 hours after fire events in the region.
Though the changing climate has no doubt led to the conditions that produce more wildfires in the region, the scientists also point to other human causes. They include deforestation, incorrect ignition and use of fire, inadequate landscape management strategies, vegetation encroachment and the increased need of fire as management tool.
veryGood! (914)
Related
- In an AP interview, the next Los Angeles DA says he’ll go after low-level nonviolent crimes
- Prince Harry honored with Pat Tillman Award for Service at The ESPYS
- Computer hacking charge dropped against Miami OnlyFans model accused of killing her boyfriend
- Seattle man sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for thousands of online threats
- Jared Goff stats: Lions QB throws career-high 5 INTs in SNF win over Texans
- Clean Energy Is Booming in Purple Wisconsin. Just Don’t Mention Climate Change
- Kim Kardashian Shares Tip of Finger Broke Off During Accident More Painful Than Childbirth
- Steward Health Care under federal investigation for fraud and corruption, sources tell CBS News
- Louisiana House greenlights Gov. Jeff Landry’s tax cuts
- On NYC beaches, angry birds are fighting drones on patrol for sharks and swimmers
Ranking
- Paraguay vs. Argentina live updates: Watch Messi play World Cup qualifying match tonight
- Arrest Made in Cold Case Murder of Teenager Elena Lasswell 20 Years Later
- Backers of ballot initiative to preserve right to abortions in Montana sue over signature rules
- Two Georgia football players arrested for speeding, reckless driving charges
- Glen Powell Addresses Rumor He’ll Replace Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible Franchise
- Milwaukee hotel workers fired after death of Black man pinned down outside
- Woman swimming off Japanese beach was swept into the Pacific, but rescued 37 hours later and 50 miles away
- Inside Black Walnut Books, a charming store focusing on BIPOC and queer authors
Recommendation
-
Voyager 2 is the only craft to visit Uranus. Its findings may have misled us for 40 years.
-
Biden to hold news conference today amid debate over his 2024 campaign. Here's what to know before he speaks.
-
Remains of U.S. airman whose bomber was shot down in World War II identified 81 years later
-
Vermonters pummeled by floods exactly 1 year apart begin another cleanup
-
NCT DREAM enters the 'DREAMSCAPE': Members on new album, its concept and songwriting
-
Pat Colbert, 'Dallas' and 'Knots Landing' actress, dies at 77: Reports
-
Republican effort to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in inherent contempt of Congress falls short
-
Ammo vending machines offer 24/7 access to bullets at some U.S. grocery stores