A recent investigative series titled "Invisible Massacre," published by O Eco, sheds light on the hidden impact of irrigation canals on wildlife in Brazil.
A recent investigative series titled Invisible Massacre, supported by World Animal Protection Brazil and published by O Eco, sheds light on the hidden impact of irrigation canals on wildlife in Brazil.
The expansion of agribusiness has led to the creation of extensive water channels designed to support large-scale monocultures.
These artificial waterways, now spanning approximately 70,000 km², an area half the size of Amapá state, have inadvertently become death traps for local fauna.
A threat to the environment and wildlife
As natural habitats are destroyed and cleared for factory farming, resources become scarce. Animals are driven to these canals in search of water.
However, the smooth, slippery walls of the channels make escape impossible, leading to exhaustion and drowning.
Maned wolves, armadillos, anteaters, and many more species, have been caught in these irrigation canals. The current sloped designs of the canals are impacting local biodiversity directly.
This ongoing tragedy remains largely unmonitored and unregulated, highlighting the broader destructive impacts of industrial agriculture on ecosystems and biodiversity.
What can be done about big agribusiness
The Invisible Massacre series calls for increased awareness and action to address these overlooked consequences of agribusiness expansion, advocating for the protection of wildlife and their habitats against the relentless push for profit-driven agricultural practices.
It is essential to grow our understanding of what is happening and the true threat to Brazil's wildlife.
