Ribeirinhos

The Image was taken during a 6 week tour through the Pantanal wetland at the end of the rainy season.

Ribeirinhos constitute a subgroup of the pantaneiros. They live by the river and identify more with the water than with the land. Their main occupation is fishing rather than livestock, although they may also practice farming in some areas, sometimes on permanently dry land and sometimes on land that sees flooding. They don’t fish on industrial scales and thus have a limited impact on their environment. They use their catch almost exclusively for subsistence or to provide for neighbours and relatives.