In 1992 Jorge Schweizer published his pioneer work about giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis, Ariranha) ecology. His studies were all done around one of the few places you would find giant otters in the 80´s: the Rio Negro in the southern Pantanal of Brazil.
Still into these days the Rio Negro is the most pristine of all rivers in the Pantanal. It is an isolated river with no commercial fishery and access from other rivers, with most of it´s gallery forest well conserved.
Here giant otters thrive, feeding on adundant fishes like these catfishes. They live in families with up to 12 members and are very active and noisy animals.
Surely, the giant otters are emblematic of the Pantanal´s wildlife abundance!