Guaporé: brazilian ecological sanctuary

The world's largest flood plain measures 230,000 sq. km. An area slightly smaller than Great Britain or seven times bigger than Holland. About 140 sq. km. of the Guaporé Valley na your Pantanal (formed n the winter), a name derived from the word "pântano" which means swamp in Portuguese, are located on Brazilian territory. The rest of the morass land extends into Bolivia and Mato Grosso State. Deep in south Rondônial, the Guaporé is the world's largest wetland. Tourists all over the planet are discovering the travel to the Guaporé Valley for a sightseeing safari. No one ever leaves the jungle disappointed. That region is a virtually unspoiled paradise for 650 species of exotic birds, 230 types of fish and a variety of mammals and reptiles. There are more than 15,000 animal species to be observed. Partially covered by water for half a year, the region teems with relatively docile South American alligators, 20 foot sucuris (a snake related to the anaconda), capivaras (the world's largest rodent, who weights around 30 kg), pumas, wild boars and rural deers, despite of the more than 600 species of exotic birds. The Guaporé Valley has one of the most rich and interesting ecosystems. The region's delicate ecology is protected by its remote position in the heart of South America. But, like the Amazon rainforest, its preservation is endangered. Ranchers, funds and government agencies fight to save the untouched fauna and flora of that unique natural paradise.

Caiman alligator shares its waters peacefully

Countless jacarés, a species of South American alligator, carpet the riverbanks. Quiet and immobile, that reptile spends hours under the sun. Usually with its mouth openned to control the body temperature and, if it's lucky, get some easy dinner. Lines of dozens of jacarés, static and with their clappers openned can be seen at the bottom of river rapids. They wait for fish that come swimming with the stream. Illegal poaching was once uncontrolled and a threat to the jacaré's existence. Since the beginning of the decade, authorities have been taking necessary steps to vanish the hunters. Wilderness state policemen patrol the vast area in boats with outboard motors. Giant river otters peacefully share waters with the South American alligators. While tapirs take a refreshment bath at the margin, capybara families, pig size rodents, tramp through the wet marsh. In the forest nearby (cilium jungle) dangling monkeys howl while jaguars stalk after preys. Visitors don't always get to see the Guaporé Valley's wide mammalian fauna. The savage animals are timid. In their ecological refuge, tourists are nothing but invaders. The only human interference allowed in the Guaporé Valley is for fishing. Even so, in a limited scale. Since 1990, the State of Rondônia banned fishing during the breeding season in its portion of the Pantanal.