The U.N. weather agency says 2023 is all but certain to be the hottest year on record, and warning of worrying trends that suggest increasing floods, wildfires, glacier melt, and heat waves in the future.

In the first two weeks of November, fires fueled by unusually dry and hot weather destroyed nearly 770,000 hectares (1.9 million acres) of the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetlands.

For those looking for activities to keep the kids entertained this Spring Break, the Houston Zoo has fun for the entire family!

The number of fires in Brazil’s Amazon during the month of September dropped to the lowest in two decades.

Brazil, the country with the most freshwater resources in the world, has lost 15% of its surface water over the last three decades.

HOUSTON – The Houston Zoo is welcoming a new addition to South America’s Pantanal exhibit. Baby howler monkey, Marlie was born on Nov. 17 to mom Charlie and dad Howie, according to a news release from the Houston Zoo. New howler monkey baby at the Houston Zoo. New howler monkey baby at the Houston Zoo. “The Houston Zoo provides support and training for education campaigns that reduce hunting and trapping of howler monkeys in Colombia.

While Brazil may be known for its beaches and the Amazon Rainforest, another part of the South American country attracts tourists from all over the world eager to easily see incredible wildlife everywhere.

NBC’s four-time Emmy Award-nominated series “American Ninja Warrior” has returned for its ninth season and we’re giving away swag to one lucky fan of the show! The contest is open now until tomorrow night after the show, scroll down and enter now for your chance to win. 1 winner will receive the follow items:-One (1) American Ninja Warrior hat-One (1) deck of American Ninja Warrior trading cards-One (1) mini hand sanitizerContest begins at 1:00 P.M. on October 20, 2020. Deadline to enter is 9:00 P.M. on October 21, 2020. Enter here:

South America’s Pantanal is now open at the Houston Zoo and we have your chance to win tickets to explore the exhibit. Two lucky winners will receive a four (4) tickets to the Houston Zoo. South America’s Pantanal will allow guests to explore the tropical wetlands of Brazil right here at the Houston Zoo. Partnered with on-the-ground conservationists, the Zoo will offer visitors the chance to see these animals in an immersive and engaging trail. As guests enter South America’s Pantanal, they will encounter a set of rustic buildings, set on piers, evoking the eco-lodges that can be found alongside the rivers and streams in the Northern Pantanal region.

HOUSTON – The Houston Zoo is excited to debut their newest exhibit, South America’s ‘Pantanal,’ which opens to the public on October 10th. ‘Pantanal’ highlights animals that the Zoo is protecting in the wild, including a jaguar, tapirs, giant anteaters, coscoroba swans, and more. Plus, for the first time at the Houston Zoo, guests can see giant river otters! By visiting the Houston Zoo and their beautiful new exhibit, you’re also helping to save these animals in the wild. You must reserve your visit online at houstonzoo.org.

HOUSTON – No need for a passport or a plane ticket to visit Houston Zoo’s upcoming exhibition. The Houston Zoo announced Wednesday that they’re working on their latest expansion project, with a focus on the Pantanal region of South America. The 4.2 acre area contains multiple species and explores the legendary tropical wetlands of Brazil, according to a news release. This exhibit... Posted by Houston Zoo on Wednesday, September 16, 2020The Houston Zoo partnered with four wildlife conservation organizations in the Pantanal region with a focus on research and monitoring, and threat reduction. Tickets can be reserved online at the Houston Zoo website.

An recently burned area at the Encontro das Aguas park at the Pantanal wetlands near Pocone, Mato Grosso state, Brazil, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. Wildfire has infiltrated the park as the number of fires at the world's biggest tropical wetlands has more than doubled in the first half of 2020, according to data released by a state institute. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)BRASILIA – A vast swath of a vital wetlands is burning in Brazil, sweeping across several national parks and obscuring the sun behind dense smoke. From January through August, the number of fires more than tripled, topping 10,000. On Friday, Brazil's navy used a helicopter to rescue a burned jaguar cub and take it to a veterinary hospital.

We're told he has the best eyes for spotting wildlife as we drive through the Pantanal. Day Five: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2019We woke up hopeful Arnaud and Gabriel had a successful night at the giant armadillo burrow. We were told it could take several days for a giant armadillo to enter the trap. There's a sign in the lab to tally the number of people who've seen a giant armadillo at Baia das Pedras since 2010. This particular giant armadillo has a tracking device implanted, but it only sends a signal for four hours in the morning.

With the help of Peter Riger from the Houston Zoo and a Brazilian man who had been sent to pick us up, the airline assured Andy his bag would come on the very next flight. Friday, Sept. 27, 2019Its 10 p.m. in Houston and I'm starting to write from the plane sitting at Bush Intercontinental Airport. The plane just lifted off and we're officially on our way to the Pantanal in Brazil. We're in good company with two members of the Houston Zoo team. Once on the ground in Brazil, well meet with people who are working every day to save wildlife in the region and whose efforts are supported by the Houston Zoo.