Regional authorities in Brazil on Monday declared a state of emergency as the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland, faces “out-of-control fires”

The wave of fires before the peak of the dry season has raised concern for the Pantanal, which stretches into Bolivia and Paraguay and is home to a rich array of wildlife, including the highest density of jaguars in the world.

The state of Mato Grosso do Sul, which includes most of Brazil’s wetlands, has declared a six-month state of emergency.

According to environmental satellite data from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 627,000 hectares of the Pantanal have caught fire since the beginning of the year.

The Pantanal had its worst year for fires in 2020, when 30 per cent of the wetlands were affected.