Giant Otters in Cuiaba

Photographed By Percy Fernandez

I have come to realise that if you are close to the equator, late afternoons can turn magical. Like in Mara in Kenya.

This afternoon on the Cuiaba River in Porto Jofre in Mato Grosso region of Brazil, the light was nothing short of magical. The waters had a calming influence. This was our fourth day on the river and we had spotted thirteen jaguars, thanks to Roberto, our guide. The jaguar is almost impossible to spot on the banks as it is perfectly built for camouflage. Roberto killed the engine as we surveyed for Patricia and her cubs.

But there was action right on the river by our side. This giant otter was stripping a fish. A bevy can take on an adult jaguar. Once hunted down for their fur, the giant otters (Pteronura Brasiliensis) were close to extinction. Even after the gold mining stopped, they have not been able to recolonise the rivers because of the depleted fish population which is its chief prey. We saw several families when we were on the river. That is good news for keeping the eco system on the Pantanal alive.