Firefighters and volunteers battle large wildfires day and night in the wetlands of Brazil's Pantanal, Mato Grosso state, where wildlife is severely threatened. Known as Brazil's jaguar sanctuary, Encontro das Aguas State Park has already lost 32% of its area to flames, according to the Institut Centre de Vie (ICV). "The fires are completely out of control," points out biologist Gustavo Figueiroa for the NGO SOS Pantanal, who fears an increase in fires in the coming days as weather forecasts predict a heat wave. Specialists say these fires are mainly caused by human action, particularly the use of incineration and burning techniques for agricultural expansion. The situation worsened at the end of the year due to an exceptional drought. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES