Wildlife of
Mato Grosso do Sul

Primary Threats

• Rapid conversion of Cerrado and forest mosaics on the surrounding plateaus (e.g., in the Upper Paraguay basin headwaters) to soy, corn, and intensified cattle production increases habitat loss and fragmentation, and drives downstream impacts in the Pantanal through altered runoff and sediment loads.
• Clearing and degradation occur both on uplands (Cerrado/Atlantic Forest remnants) and in parts of the Pantanal via pasture intensification, selective removal of native vegetation, and wetland-edge development-reducing denning/nesting sites for species like giant anteater, tapir, and hyacinth macaw.
• Changes to floodplain dynamics-through drainage, riverbank alteration, small hydrological works, and watershed-level land-use change-can weaken the Pantanal's seasonal flood pulse, impacting fish recruitment, aquatic vegetation, and wildlife that depend on predictable inundation cycles.
• Hotter temperatures and more frequent/intense drought years heighten wildfire risk and shorten or destabilize flooding periods. In MS this manifests as extreme fire seasons in the Pantanal and stress on wetlands, riparian forests, and water availability for people and wildlife.
• Agrochemical runoff from upland agriculture, plus urban wastewater in growing towns, degrades water quality in tributaries feeding the Paraguay River system. This can contribute to eutrophication, fish stress, and contamination risks in wetlands and karst waters (e.g., Bonito/Serra da Bodoquena region).
• Road upgrades, new bridges, port/logistics expansion (including routes linked to the Bioceanic Corridor) and energy transmission corridors increase fragmentation, vehicle collisions (notably for giant anteaters and tapirs), and open access for illegal extraction and hunting in remote areas.
• Localized extraction (e.g., limestone and other materials) can affect karst systems and springs in Serra da Bodoquena and contributes to sedimentation and habitat disturbance when poorly managed, with downstream consequences for clearwater rivers and aquatic biodiversity.
• Although large-scale logging is less dominant than agriculture, illegal or poorly regulated wood extraction and fuelwood collection in forest remnants and riparian corridors reduce structural habitat complexity and increase fire susceptibility.
• Illegal hunting for bushmeat and retaliation killing (e.g., after livestock predation) persists in rural landscapes. Species such as peccaries, deer, and large cats are especially affected, and hunting pressure can intensify near access roads and waterways.
• Jaguar-livestock conflict on cattle ranches in the Pantanal is a recurrent driver of persecution. Conflict can rise during drought/fire years when prey availability shifts and cattle are concentrated near remaining water sources.
• MS's borders with Paraguay and Bolivia facilitate trafficking routes for parrots/macaws, reptiles, and other fauna. Capture pressure is elevated where enforcement is thin and transport corridors are improving.
• High fishing pressure in the Paraguay River system and its tributaries (commercial, subsistence, and sport) can reduce key stocks, affecting food webs that support iconic Pantanal wildlife and local livelihoods, especially during low-water years.
• Non-native fish (commonly introduced for aquaculture/sport) and invasive/feral animals can alter aquatic communities and compete with native species. Feral pigs can also damage wetlands and riparian zones, increasing turbidity and erosion.
• Spillover risks increase where wildlife, livestock, and domestic dogs interact on ranchlands and near settlements. Carnivores (e.g., maned wolves and wild canids) can be exposed to canine pathogens, while ungulates may face pressures from livestock-associated diseases.
• Rapidly growing nature tourism (boat traffic, wildlife viewing) and river recreation can disturb nesting/roosting birds and alter animal behavior if unmanaged-especially in jaguar-viewing hotspots and sensitive riparian habitats.