A forklift is seen amongst the charred remains of a lobster pound in Middle West Pubnico, Nova Scotia, Canada, October 17, 2020. REUTERS/John Morris

A forklift is seen amongst the charred remains of a lobster pound in Middle West Pubnico, Nova Scotia, Canada, October 17, 2020. REUTERS/John Morris

Melted umbrellas and charred picnic tables are seen at a burnt business, in Calistoga, California, U.S., September 28, 2020. REUTERS/Fred Greaves

A ponderosa pine tree is cut down after being charred by the Brattain Fire in the Fremont National Forest near Paisley, Oregon, U.S., September 19, 2020. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

The remains of a fire charred bicycle are seen in the yard of a home destroyed by fire in the Cascade mountain range during the aftermath of the Riverside Fire near Molalla, Oregon, U.S., September 16, 2020. Picture taken September 16, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

A charred children's wagon sits in the remains of Sandra Stone's family cabin, which was destroyed by the CZU Lightning Complex fire, in Brookdale, California, U.S., September 15, 2020. REUTERS/Nathan Frandino

A fire has been burning since mid-July in the remote wetlands of west-central Brazil, leaving in its wake a vast charred desolation bigger than New York City. A team of veterinarians, biologists and local guides arrived in late August to prowl the bumpy dirt road known as the Trans-Pantanal Highway in pickup trucks, looking to save what injured animals they could. Jaguars were wandering the blackened wasteland, they said, starving or going thirsty, with paws burnt to the bone, lungs blackened by smoke. They saw bodies of alligator-like caiman, jaws frozen in silent screams, the last act of creatures desperate to cool off before being consumed by flames. This massive fire is one of thousands of blazes sweeping the Brazilian Pantanal - the world's largest wetland - this year in what climate scientists fear could become a new normal, echoing the rise in climate-driven fires from California to Australia. The Pantanal is smaller and less-known than its famous cousin, the Amazon jungle. But the region's normally abundant waters and strategic location - sandwiched between the rainforest, Brazil's vast grasslands and Paraguay's dry forests - make it a magnet for animals. The fires are now threatening one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, biologists say. The Pantanal is home to roughly 1,200 vertebrate animal species, including 36 that are threatened with extinction. Across this usually lush landscape of 150,000 square kilometers (57,915 square miles) in Brazil, rare birds flutter and the world's densest population of jaguars roam. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "PANTANAL PEROBELLI" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES Matching text: CLIMATE-CHANGE/BRAZIL-PANTANAL

A burning hotspot is seen through the charred remains of a destroyed vehicle after the Bear Fire raged through Berry Creek, California, U.S. September 9, 2020. REUTERS/Fred Greaves

Charred debris from the Berry Creek Elementary school is seen after the Bear Fire raged through Berry Creek, California, U.S. September 9, 2020. REUTERS/Fred Greaves

Charred debris are seen after the Bear Fire burned through Berry Creek, California, U.S.September 9, 2020. REUTERS/Fred Greaves?

Charred items are seen after the Bear Fire burned through Berry Creek, California, U.S.September 9, 2020. REUTERS/Fred Greaves?

Charred debris are seen after the Bear Fire burned through Berry Creek, California, U.S.September 9, 2020. REUTERS/Fred Greaves?

Charred vehicles are seen after the Bear Fire burned through Berry Creek, California, U.S.September 9, 2020. REUTERS/Fred Greaves?

Charred items are seen after the Bear Fire burned through Berry Creek, California, U.S.September 9, 2020. REUTERS/Fred Greaves?

Charred mailboxes are seen after the Bear Fire burned through Berry Creek, California, U.S.September 9, 2020. REUTERS/Fred Greaves

Charred items are seen after the Bear Fire burned through Berry Creek, California, U.S.September 9, 2020. REUTERS/Fred Greaves

A swing and a charred vehicle are seen after the Bear Fire burned through Berry Creek, California, U.S.September 9, 2020. REUTERS/Fred Greaves

Fruits charred by the Creek Fire are seen on a tree in Shaver Lake, California, U.S. September 8, 2020. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

A water tender truck is seen through charred remains of the historical Cressman's General Store during the Creek Fire in Shaver Lake, California, U.S. September 8, 2020. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

Charred remains of the historical Cressman's General Store are seen during the Creek Fire in Shaver Lake, California, U.S. September 8, 2020. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

The shed skin of a snake lies on charred grass in an area that has seen blazes caused by fire balloons launched from the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, near Kibbutz Kissufim on the Israeli side of the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip August 19, 2020. Picture taken August 19, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

A heart-shaped piece of unburnt ground is surrounded by charred grass in an area that has seen blazes caused by fire balloons launched from the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, near Kibbutz Alumim on the Israeli side of the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip August 15, 2020. Picture taken August 15, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

A spider rests on charred ground in an area that has seen blazes caused by fire balloons launched from the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, near Kibbutz Alumim on the Israeli side of the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip August 15, 2020. Picture taken August 15, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

A pigeon carcass lies on charred grass in an area that has seen blazes caused by fire balloons launched from the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, near Kibbutz Nir Am on the Israeli side of the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip August 16, 2020. Picture taken August 16, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen Pigeon

A fox skull sits on charred leaves in an area that has seen blazes caused by fire balloons launched from the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, near Kibbutz Kissufim on the Israeli side of the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip August 16, 2020. Picture taken August 16, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

A charred dried out stream is seen in an area that has seen blazes caused by fire balloons launched from the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, near Kibbutz Nir Am on the Israeli side of the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip August 17, 2020. Picture taken August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen River

A tortoise who suffered burns walks on charred ground in an area that has seen blazes caused by fire balloons launched from the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, near Kibbutz Nir Am on the Israeli side of the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip August 17, 2020. Picture taken August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Smoke rises around charred trees at the scene of a fire in an area that has seen blazes caused by fire balloons launched from the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, near Kibbutz Be'eri on the Israeli side of the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip August 21, 2020. Picture taken August 21, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

A cow walks among charred vegetation during the LNU Lighting Complex Fire on the outskirts of Vacaville, California, U.S. August 19, 2020. REUTERS/Stephen Lam TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Charred animal remains are seen along Pleasants Valley Road during the LNU Lighting Complex Fire on the outskirts of Vacaville, California, U.S. August 19, 2020. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

A helicopter flies over charred hillside as a fast-moving wildfire, called the Lake Fire, burns in a mountainous area of Angeles National Forest north of Los Angeles, California, U.S. August 13, 2020. REUTERS/Patrick T. Fallon

A helicopter flies over charred hillside as a fast-moving wildfire, called the Lake Fire, burns in a mountainous area of Angeles National Forest north of Los Angeles, California, U.S. August 13, 2020. REUTERS/Patrick T. Fallon

French Char B1 tank from WWII take part in the Bastille Day military parade honouring French health workers and their dedication in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), on Place de la Concorde in Paris, France July 14, 2020. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS

People attend the wake of Gardenia and her daughter Dulce, who were killed and charred inside a car, during their wake in La Magdalena Tetela Morelos, in Puebla state, Mexico June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Imelda Medina

Members of the Seventh-day Adventist church take part in the wake of Gardenia and her daughter Dulce, who were killed and charred inside a car, in La Magdalena Tetela Morelos, in Puebla state, Mexico June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Imelda Medina

Gabriela Flores stands by the coffins of her daughter Gardenia and her granddaughter Dulce, who were killed and charred inside a car, during their wake in La Magdalena Tetela Morelos, in Puebla state, Mexico June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Imelda Medina

People attend the wake of Gardenia and her daughter Dulce, who were killed and charred inside a car, as a Mariachi band play in La Magdalena Tetela Morelos, in Puebla state, Mexico June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Imelda Medina

Members of the Seventh-day Adventist church take part in the wake of Gardenia and her daughter Dulce, who were killed and charred inside a car, in La Magdalena Tetela Morelos, in Puebla state, Mexico June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Imelda Medina

A member of the Seventh-day Adventist church takes part in the wake of Gardenia and her daughter Dulce, who were killed and charred inside a car, in La Magdalena Tetela Morelos, in Puebla state, Mexico June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Imelda Medina

People stand by the coffin of Gardenia, who was killed and charred inside a car along her daughter Dulce, during their wake in La Magdalena Tetela Morelos, in Puebla state, Mexico June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Imelda Medina

People carry the coffins of Gardenia and her daughter Dulce, who were killed and charred inside a car, during a funeral procession toward the cemetery in La Magdalena Tetela Morelos, in Puebla state, Mexico June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Imelda Medina

People take part in a funeral procession for Gardenia and her daughter Dulce, who were killed and charred inside a car, toward the cemetery in La Magdalena Tetela Morelos, in Puebla state, Mexico June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Imelda Medina

People carry the coffins of Gardenia and her daughter Dulce, who were killed and charred inside a car, during a funeral procession toward the cemetery in La Magdalena Tetela Morelos, in Puebla state, Mexico June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Imelda Medina

People carry the coffins of Gardenia and her daughter Dulce, who were killed and charred inside a car, during a funeral procession toward the cemetery in La Magdalena Tetela Morelos, in Puebla state, Mexico June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Imelda Medina

People take part in a funeral procession for Gardenia and her daughter Dulce, who were killed and charred inside a car, toward the cemetery in La Magdalena Tetela Morelos, in Puebla state, Mexico June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Imelda Medina

Charred trunks are seen on a tract of Amazon jungle, that was recently burned by loggers and farmers, in Porto Velho, Brazil August 23, 2019. Picture taken August 23, 2019. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

A charred trunk is seen on a tract of the Amazon jungle, that was recently burned by loggers and farmers, in Porto Velho, Brazil August 23, 2019. Picture taken August 23, 2019. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

Women walk past charred vehicles in a riot affected area following clashes between people demonstrating for and against a new citizenship law in New Delhi, India, February 27, 2020. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A woman walks past charred vehicles in a riot affected area following clashes between people demonstrating for and against a new citizenship law in New Delhi, India, February 27, 2020. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Security forces patrol past charred vehicles in a riot affected area following clashes between people demonstrating for and against a new citizenship law in New Delhi, India, February 27, 2020. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Charred oranges hang from a tree on the property of farmer Jeff McCole, 70, in Buchan, Victoria, Australia, January 25, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

The remains of cars that were burnt during the bushfire season, are piled up in the community of Wytaliba, New South Wales, Australia January 27, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva SEARCH "ORPHANED KANGAROOS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Burnt bushland is seen in Buchan, Victoria, Australia, January 23, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Charred trees left in the wake of a recent bushfire are seen near Bumbalong, New South Wales, Australia, February 2, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

A charred landscape left in the wake of a recent bushfire is seen near Bumbalong, New South Wales, Australia, February 2, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

Smoke rises from the smouldering remnants of a bushfire near Bumbalong, New South Wales, Australia, February 2, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

A landscape shrouded in smoke from nearby bushfires is seen near Bumbalong, New South Wales, Australia, February 2, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott