In Pictures

In Pictures: Mission to save the Amazon’s animals from fires

Animals of the Amazon, one of the earth’s most biodiverse habitats, face an ever-growing threat from loggers and farms.

A road runs through a tract of burnt Amazon jungle near Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil, August 14, 2020. Creatures of the Amazon, one of the earth''s most biodiverse habitats, face an ever-growing — A road runs through a tract of burned jungle near Porto Velho, Rondonia, Brazil. Creatures of the Amazon, one of the earth's most bio-diverse habitats, face an ever-growing threat as loggers and farms advance further and further into the rainforest. [Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters]

Xita, a tiny marmoset monkey with sad brown eyes, clutches her newborn tight. Both are fighting for their lives.

Vets working at the Clinidog clinic in the Amazon city of Porto Velho believe the mother and baby were run over by a car as they fled fires raging across the world’s largest rainforest.

“She arrived stressed, screaming and smeared with blood,” said Carlos Henrique Tiburcio, the owner of the clinic, as he wrapped the pair in a small, white cloth.

Creatures of the Amazon, one of the earth’s most biodiverse habitats, face an ever-growing threat as loggers and farms advance further and further into the rainforest.

In the dry season, ranchers and land speculators set fires to clear deforested woodland for pasture. Blazes can rage out of control, fuelled by the swirling wind and dry foliage.

Animals flee the flames, with the weak and dying among them arriving at Tiburcio’s clinic where four volunteers work tirelessly to save them.

“This time of year, when fires are constant due to the absence of rain, the animals seek shelter in desperation to escape death and end up in the city, putting themselves at risk of being run over or captured,” said Marcelo Andreani, whose job is to rescue injured animals and bring them to the clinic.

“Human respect for nature is ending,” said Andreani, who works for the state environmental police.

An anteater arrived with a broken left paw after a clash with a fierce porcupine. The patient had been found hiding in a garage. The vets think she might have been fleeing fires as anteaters rarely turn up in the city.

After surgery, one of the vets took Linguaruda home to keep a closer eye on her recovery. At one point, she climbed into the sink to rest.

In five days, Linguaruda was strong enough to return to the wild – the best outcome her rescuers could wish for.

“Our personal and professional satisfaction is immense when we manage to save a life, especially when we manage to rehabilitate an animal and return it to nature,” Tiburcio said.

“I look at the sky and say, ‘Thank you, Father, for everything you did for [me] to be the Lord’s instrument.”

Linguaruda was freed near a forest trail, where she eagerly clambered among the trees once more.

Veterinarian Carine Hanna takes care of Xita, a Rondon''s marmoset, who was rescued by the state environmental police after giving birth, at the Clinidog veterinary clinic, in Porto Velho, Rondonia Sta — Veterinarian Carine Hanna takes care of Xita, a Rondon's marmoset rescued by the state environmental police at the Clinidog veterinary clinic, in Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil. [Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters]

Veterinarian Carine Hanna holds a baby monkey whose mother was rescued by the state environmental police after giving birth, at the Clinidog veterinary clinic, in Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil, — Veterinarian Carine Hanna holds a baby monkey whose mother was rescued by the state environmental police after giving birth, at the Clinidog veterinary clinic. [Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters]

A hawk flies over a tract of burnt Amazon jungle near Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil August 14, 2020. In the dry season ranchers and land speculators set fires to clear deforested woodland for pa — A hawk flies over a tract of burned jungle near Porto Velho, Rondonia, Brazil. In the dry season, ranchers and land speculators set fires to clear deforested woodland for pasture. Blazes can rage out of control, fuelled by the swirling wind and dry foliage [Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters]

Veterinarian Carlos Henrique cares for a Caracara hawk with symptoms of food infection at the Clinidog veterinary clinic near Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil August 24, 2020. The weak and the dyin — Veterinarian Carlos Henrique looks after a Caracara hawk with symptoms of an infection at the Clinidog veterinary clinic near Porto Velho, Rondonia. The weak and the dying animals arrive at the clinic where a group of four volunteers try to save them. [Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters]

Marcelo Andreani, 40, a veterinarian of the state environmental police, examines a tapir after it was rescued from an illegal captivity at a farm and transferred to their headquarters, near Porto Velh — Marcelo Andreani, 40, a veterinarian with the state environmental police, examines a tapir after it was rescued from illegal captivity at a farm and transferred to their headquarters, near Porto Velho, Rondonia State. [Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters]

Marcelo Andreani, 40, a veterinarian of the state environmental police, treats an Anteater at his house, near Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil August 19, 2020. The anteater arrived with a broken le — This anteater arrived with a broken left paw after a clash with a porcupine. The fracture required surgery. Under anaesthetic, a giant tongue rolled out of the anteater's mouth, earning her the affectionate nickname Linguaruda or "long-tongue". In five days, Linguaruda was strong enough to return to the wild. [Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters]

A recovered anteater is released in Amazon forest after receiving veterinary treatment by a veterinarian of the state environmental police Marcelo Andreani and the owner of the veterinary clinic Clini — The recovered anteater is released in the Amazon forest after receiving veterinary treatment. [Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters]