CONSERVATION

The Pantanal, a vast wetland covering 210,000 km2 at the very heart of South America, is the world’s largest floodplain and is of enormous importance for biodiversity conservation. It is home to a wide range of mammals such as the jaguar, the Giant anteater, and the Howler Monkey as well as reptiles such as the Caiman Yacaré – Caiman crocodile – after which the Lodge is named. It is, however, coming under growing threat from human activities.

In the face of these human pressures and the gradual decline of the Pantanal natural ecosystem, Caiman has adopted a unique sustainable land management model fusing a strong ecotourism product and the traditional “Pantaneiro” cattle ranching system. This multi-faceted approach highlights Caiman’s strong desire to play a leadership role in promoting the conservation and economy of the Pantanal through land management that builds on modern conservation approaches and initiatives, such as ecotourism, and the best of traditional land use practices, such as traditional cattle ranching. This model has been widely successful and has provided a strong example of conservation and development efforts throughout the Pantanal.

Another important conservation initiative is Caiman’s establishment in 2004 of a private nature – reserve – “RPPN Dona Aracy”, which at 5,600 hectares represents more than 10% of the total Caiman, Pantanal. The “RPPN Dona Aracy” is now a major focus of Caiman’s conservation efforts, and is an additional conservation initiative over and above the conservation effort in the wider Caiman, Pantanal. The RPPN preserves an exceptional variety of habitats and biodiversity and further demonstrates Caiman’s strong commitment to its conservation goals.

Caiman is also the base for pioneer conservation initiatives such as Onçafari, Hyacinth Macaw Institute and Blue Fronted Parrot. Caiman is the perfect place to carry out their research and monitoring work.

Onçafari promotes the conservation of the Pantanal through a different kind of photographic safari, in which the animals do not lose their wild nature, but stop seeing the safari vehicles as a threat. This responsible ecotourism initiative provides a source of income to the region’s inhabitants and owners, uniting sustainable practices with social progress. The fascination provoked by the jaguars and the experience of the safaris are used as tools to change the opinion about these animals and raise awareness to the visitors and the Pantanal inhabitants that preservation is a synonym of development.

Founded in 1990 and coordinated by Dr. Neiva Guedes, from Uniderp, The Hyacinth Macaw Institute monitors Hyacinth Macaw’s nests to obtain data about the species. It has helped to recuperate the population of the species throughout the pantanal and remove it from the list of endangered species turning the bird into a symbol of resistance in the region.

COMMUNITY

Due to its large size (53,000 hectares), Caiman chiefly regards its community as the employees and their families located within the Caiman, rather than more distant communities outside the property. Thus the community comprises the 120 permanent residents on site, including members of staff and their families for the lodge and the ranch; all of whom have access to a wide range of benefits such as high-quality free housing, health services and on-site schooling for their children.

The extensive knowledge of and experience in cattle ranching among Caiman’s internal community members represents an essential component for the sustainable management of the Pantanal environment and habitats, as well as for providing a solid foundation from which a successful tourism business can be operated. As much as Caiman’s focus is on this small internal population, its dedication and commitment to sustainable land use and economic development extend to a strong engagement with neighboring landowners in the wider Pantanal area and Mato Grosso do Sul region.

Caiman is strongly driven by the desire to improve the livelihoods of its internal and neighboring communities by providing them with access to income generating opportunities. By continuously enhancing the community’s wellbeing, Caiman believes it is doing its part to provide the next generation with an alternative to a life in São Paulo or another metropolis and enhancing the preservation of the Pantanal environment and way of life by encouraging the uptake of the more traditional professions.

CULTURE

Caiman is aware of the importance of the Pantanal culture both in the running of its ranch as well as in its conservation initiatives. It strongly encourages its employees to keep Pantanal culture and traditions alive by adopting them as a way of life rather than something from the past that requires preservation. Caiman has made great effort to support and promote Pantanal culture within its community including major events such as the “Annual Caiman Lasso Festival”, which is the largest most important cultural event for the Caiman community and one of the most famous in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, attracting more than 800 people including government officials from within the state to showcase and celebrate their culture for a duration of three days.

In addition, Caiman has a first-rate website on which a vast amount of information and details about its various cultural activities and products can be found. Its guests are not left behind and are given inimitable opportunities to experience this rich culture first hand. Caiman offers key activities geared toward intercultural exchange including the “Cowboy Day” and “Cattle Drive Traditional Lunch” through which guests can learn about handling cattle and horses, come in contact with “Pantaneiros”, practice lasso and become part of Tereré, a traditional mate tea-drinking ritual of cowboys.

COMMERCE

Caiman’s ecotourism operation has been underway since 1985, and at present, it is delivering a high-end experience based on one main lodge, Casa Caiman, and two private villas – Cordilheira and the Baiazinha.

Its structure, unique in the Pantanal, brings together extremely cosy and comfortable accommodation, magical experiences in nature – all run by experts who know everything about the location – and delicious cuisine. Always seeking ways to provide a variety of products and appeal to different tastes, Caiman is developing a wide range of activities. Key amongst these is the development of a jaguar viewing tourism attraction based on Jaguar habituation to vehicles.

Between tours, Caiman offers all the structure and every comfort so guests can enjoy moments both of relaxing and contemplating nature.