Current:Home > BackNearly 17 million animals died in wildfires in Brazil's wetlands last year-LoTradeCoin
Nearly 17 million animals died in wildfires in Brazil's wetlands last year
View Date:2024-12-24 07:16:57
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! (8748)
Related
- US Congress hopes to 'pull back the curtain' on UFOs in latest hearing: How to watch
- 'I want to do damage': Yankees' 6-foot-6 prospect Spencer Jones has his eyes on New York
- Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce responds to Harrison Butker's commencement address
- What is the first round order for the 2024 NHL draft? Who are the top prospects?
- Cold case arrest: Florida man being held in decades-old Massachusetts double murder
- Judge declines to dismiss Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter in fatal 'Rust' shooting
- George Floyd's brother says he still has nightmares about his 2020 murder
- Idaho drag performer awarded $1.1 million in defamation case against far-right blogger
- Former Disney Star Skai Jackson Is Pregnant, Expecting First Baby With Her Boyfriend
- Storytelling program created by actor Tom Skerritt helps veterans returning home
Ranking
- ONA Community Introduce
- A 19th century flag disrupts leadership at an Illinois museum and prompts a state investigation
- Republican-appointed University of Wisconsin regent refuses to step down when term ends
- Judge declines to dismiss Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter in fatal 'Rust' shooting
- Ranked voting will decide a pivotal congressional race. How does that work?
- He fell ill on a cruise. Before he boarded the rescue boat, they handed him the bill.
- Globe-trotting archeologist who drew comparisons to Indiana Jones dies at age 94
- Man throws flaming liquid on New York City subway, burns fellow rider
Recommendation
-
GreenBox Systems will spend $144 million to build an automated warehouse in Georgia
-
Leclerc takes pole position for Monaco GP and ends Verstappen’s bid for F1 record
-
Are banks, post offices, UPS and FedEx open on Memorial Day 2024? Here's what to know
-
Utah man declined $100K offer to travel to Congo on ‘security job’ that was covert coup attempt
-
Pete Alonso's best free agent fits: Will Mets bring back Polar Bear?
-
'Ready to make that USA Team': Sha'Carri Richardson cruises to 100m win at Pre Classic
-
Nearly a decade into Timberwolves career, Karl-Anthony Towns has been waiting for this moment.
-
Grayson Murray dies at age 30 a day after withdrawing from Colonial, PGA Tour says