Meet the fauna of Brazil’s heatwave

The jaguar, tapir, giant anteater, maned wolf, and the giant river otter, among others, are undeniable representatives of Brazil’s rich and unique fauna, some of which have even been featured in comic books, banknotes, and music. 

But forgive us, dear creatures: Brazil has a list of other “animals” that, at least in recent weeks, have done a better job of truthfully representing the country. 

Since at least the end of September, Brazilians have been struggling with one of the most brutal heatwaves on record, with major cities like São Paulo reporting some of their highest temperatures ever recorded.

In other places, such as Rio de Janeiro, the heat even surpassed 50 degrees Celsius, leaving residents melting. Meanwhile, the inland Center-West region became one big figurative oven. 

That’s why no other “species” was as present in our hot urban jungle world as fans, air conditioners, sunscreen, and water bottles. In fact, the last two are something that experts strongly recommend for everyone, while the first two have become an inescapable necessity in times of extreme heat. 

Joking aside, the current climatic context in Brazil also affects these (real) animals, as well as humans. 

Thanks to rapid and aggressive human-induced environmental change, combined with weather phenomena such as El Niño, we can expect to face these out-of-control temperatures more frequently from now on. This could pose a growing threat to the environment, with endangered species and humans increasingly at risk. 

Thinking about a more responsible future is essential. Until then, don’t forget to stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun! 

Check out the creation of this cartoon on The Brazilian Report’s TikTok (@brazilianreport) account. 

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