Baby giant anteaters rescued from Brazil wildfires

Image credit: Noelly Castro

You're helping our partner, The Institutió Tamanduá, to shelter several giant anteaters affected by the fires.

One of these, a cub called Joaquim, is five months old. When he arrived at the shelter he was very weak, having been hit by a car. Sadly, we think his mother was killed as they tried to escape the fires.

Most of the animals treated by the shelter were not burnt by the fires but many giant anteaters fleeing the fires were hit by cars as they tried to escape the flames.

The institute, which is part of the Pantanal Animal Technical Rescue Group (GRETAP), takes care of many orphans like Joaquim.

Joaquim is being rehabilitated and will stay at the shelter for about ten months before being released.

He’ll be fed there so that he regains a normal weight, and the institute will support him to become independent and take care of himself. After that, Joaquim will be released back into the wild under surveillance.

Image credit: Noelly Castro

Robert Vieto, animal welfare consultant at World Animal Protection, said:

“We estimate that our support can handle dozens of animals including small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. In addition, our work will enable support for hundreds of other animals by addressing food and water scarcity in the affected area.”

You didn't just provide emergency aid we’re also working to prevent these types of fires in the future.

The wildfires in the Pantanal region are manmade: many of the fires were deliberately started to clear land for the factory farming industry. Huge areas are being razed to the ground so that animal feed can be grown or cattle can graze for the meat industry.

With our supporters help, we’ll continue to fight to protect wildlife and their precious habitats into the future. 

The wildfires in the Pantanal region are manmade: many of the fires were deliberately started to clear land for the factory farming industry.