Brazil Archives - Ferrara Wildlife Photography

Ocelot – The Ocelot

The Ocelot The following narrative describes what occurred one emerging evening in the mysterious recesses of Brazil’s vast and uncanny Pantanal … behold the Ocelot! Night’s stygian pall covers the enigmatic jungle Strange forlorn voices murmur from inky recesses Netherworld conversations Then Silence Portending silence A vague shape precipitates in the underbrush Amorphously it clings to shadows After an eternity, the specter takes form It climbs a limb Then, melts into the ebon night ~ Anecdote, poem and Ocelot capture, The Ocelot © Jerry L. Ferrara

Doppelganger The day had not yet dawned when I departed the lodge in Brazil’s swampy Pantanal. As the light arrived, I discovered a Yacare Caiman, mostly submerged and stealthily waiting to ambush an unsuspecting morning meal. My position relative to the crocodilian exposed its doppelganger. ~ Anecdote and Yacare Caiman capture, Doppelganger © Jerry L. Ferrara. Captured on Fujichrome 100 film, circa 1996.

Claw and Fang The jungle held deep secrets From emptiness they rang Hidden in the shadows, yet, one came as claw and fang It blended into nowhere It moved with stealth and grace Its orbs set forth a death stare and safety found no place The jungle held deep secrets It whispered them so soft So when they came to be, yet, too late it seemed so oft ~ Poem and Jaguar capture, Claw and Fang © Jerry L. Ferrara. Image created in Brazil’s vast and enigmatic Pantanal.

The Calling Card Communicating with one another in absentia, a Jaguar sniffs a brushy area where a member of its race recently sprayed. Along a path a feline wentand as it passed, it left a scentfor others of its kind to find,a message that seemed quite sublime.Did the ‘calling card’ give hintof the author’s veiled intent?Was it a trespasser’s claimto the jungle’s dark domain?Or a lusty lady’s tempt–a Jezebel’s seductive scent? ~ Poem and Jaguar capture, The Calling Card © Jerry L. Ferrara, from the wilds of Brazil’s Mato Grosso.

Questions The Chestnut-eared Aracari is a strikingly colorful South American bird that is a notable member of the Toucan [think cereal] family. Their gaudily imprinted and outrageously large bills are hallmarks of this rowdy species. Why do they wear these impressive “badges”? There are questions and then there are questions. Oh Chestnut-eared Aracari, why do you seem to be wary? For one might just ask, “Why wear a mask that makes you look so darn scary”. Now let us all look at your beak. To say it is gross would be weak. Its size a surprise, why so large we surmise. The reasons all seem quite oblique. Is your bill used in courtship and breeding? Or primarily is it for feeding? No answers return, about this concern. We are left with a puzzle that’s needing. What are the selective pressures that have given rise to the unusual traits of the myriad creatures inhabiting our planet? Many questions still remain. ~ Poem and Chestnut-eared Aracari capture, Questions © Jerry L. Ferrara. Mato Grosso Brazil

Onca The Prelude: The setting for today’s story is an old California Spanish Land Grant tract of land known as Rancho Guejito [wah-hee’-tah] in east San Diego County. I believe the actual incident related here occurred somewhere between the late 1940’s to mid 1950’s. The account was told to me by my father when I was a very young boy. My father heard the narrative directly from the rancher who actually experienced the event. The tale made a lasting impression on my youthful, fertile mind and I often thought what a great experience it would be to see a Jaguar in a truly wild setting. The seed of a dream was planted many years ago and it began with this story. The Narrative: A heavy brume blanketed the rolling topography hiding secrets within its murky mist. This was an often-recurring early morning manifestation that happens in the Engleman Oak forest and chaparral-laced place known as Rancho Guejito … and a cattleman on his steady steed came to pause while in search of the herd. During the respite the rancher adjusted the wide brim of his lofty-crowned hat and rearranged the oversized white kerchief masking the prodigious goiter bulging from his […]

The Ocelot The following narrative describes what occurred one emerging evening in the mysterious recesses of Brazil’s vast and uncanny Pantanal … behold the Ocelot! Night’s stygian pall covers the enigmatic jungleStrange forlorn voices murmur from inky recessesNetherworld conversationsThenSilencePortending silenceA vague shape precipitates in the underbrushAmorphously it clings to shadowsAfter an eternity, the specter takes formIt climbs a limbThen, melts into the ebon night ~ Anecdote, poem and Ocelot capture, The Ocelot © Jerry L. Ferrara

Onca d’agua The Giant River Otter [or Giant Otter], sometimes known colloquially as Onca d’agua [Portuguese for Jaguar of the water], is not really a Jaguar at all. In fact, the South American species is a member of the mustelid or weasel family, yet … a truly efficient predator, not unlike the Jaguar. ~ Anecdote and Giant River Otter capture, Onca d’agua © Jerry L. Ferrara. Pantanal, Brazil

A Radiator of Sorts A Toco Toucan pauses briefly on a tree limb in Brazil’s Pantanal. While its bill is a prominent, “showy” item, research indicates the organ may also help regulate the bird’s body temperature acting as a radiator of sorts. ~ Toco Toucan capture, A Radiator of Sorts © Jerry L. Ferrara

Look Close! Look close! What do you see? A rough misshapen topography? What at first seems a landscape carved Is the face of a herp so deeply gnarled Look close! The caiman is a relative to alligators and crocodiles ~ Anecdote and Yacare Caiman capture, Look Close! © Jerry L. Ferrara, from the wilds of Brazil

Brazil

Ocelot – The Ocelot

Yacare Caiman – Doppelganger

Jaguar – Claw and Fang

Jaguar – The Calling Card

Chestnut-eared Aracari – Questions

Jaguar – Onca

Ocelot – The Ocelot

Giant River Otter – Onca d’agua

Toco Toucan – A Radiator of Sorts

Yacare Caiman – Look Close!

Ferrara Wildlife Photography