Across the rustic savannahs and dense rainforests of Guyana, where the skies gleam and towering trees shelter some of the world’s most treasured wildlife, climate change is quietly altering the natural balance.
Warming temperatures and erratic weather patterns are putting pressure on the very species that define Guyana’s rich biodiversity. From fires in the savannah to disappearing riverbanks, the warning signs are clear.
Climate Change and Wildlife Migration
“For instance, you have cities being destroyed by war, you have habitat disruption in humans and those cause migration, which causes people to move. The same thing happens with wildlife when their habitats are destroyed,” said Melanie McTurk, a chemist, conservationist and advocate for community development, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle.
Melanie, who hails from the Rupununi (Region Nine)—home to much of Guyana’s wildlife—noted a concerning rise in temperatures over the past two years. Similar heat levels were already being felt in early 2025.
“Last year, we were running at about two degrees higher than we are accustomed to seeing. One of the obvious things, and very obvious to habitat loss, was fires. We were getting a lot more fires, and the fires that were happening, they were lasting longer, they were destroying greater areas of land, and there were a number of wild species that were injured being caught in those fires.”
Wildfires on the Rise
According to Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), between January and May 2025, a staggering 91,128 fires were reported. These fires burned approximately 5,045.45 square miles of land—around six per cent of Guyana’s total land area.
While efforts were made to protect human life and property, the toll on wildlife was undeniable.
“We saw a lot more of instances of people encountering animals that were burnt, semi burnt or just had been killed in the fires,” Melanie shared.
The Rupununi region, with its dry climate and savannah vegetation, recorded the most intense and long-lasting fires.
Animals on the Move
As habitats become inhospitable, animals are being forced to move into unfamiliar territory, often closer to human settlements.
“The other thing that we started to see is more animals coming out of their regular habitats. Because those habitats were getting hotter, or those habitats had been destroyed, we were seeing more of those animals coming into human spaces, and in some cases, with very negative impacts,” Melanie explained.
Species like tapirs and jaguars are being spotted more frequently outside their typical ranges.
Changing Seasons, Changing Lives
Unlike humans who follow calendars, animals rely on environmental cues to guide migration, breeding, and feeding. Climate change is disrupting those cues.
Take the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)—a heat-sensitive species native to the Rupununi savannahs.
“They don’t like it to be too hot and they don’t like it to be too cold,” said Erin Earl from the South Rupununi Conservation Society (SRCS). “So, they like a mix, a mosaic of open land, Savannah land and forested areas like That’s their favourite, and that’s what we have in abundance here, especially in the South Rupununi and also in the North Rupununi.”
Rising temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns pose a serious threat to their survival.
“So now, if we are extrapolating the environmental impact of climate change, then we can say that species, like giant anteaters, particularly, are going to be affected by changes in ambient temperature and also changes in rainfall,” she added.
Other species, like the Kingfisher, are also being impacted. Once commonly found along riverbanks, the bird is now rarely seen due to extreme flooding and prolonged dry spells.
Indigenous communities have even reported the disappearance of animals like the Capybara, once a familiar sight.
What Lies Ahead?
Guyana’s Hydrometeorological Service (Hydromet) is forecasting above-normal weather patterns for both the dry and wet seasons.
In its February–April 2025 outlook, above-normal daytime temperatures are expected across all regions, while night-time temperatures in southern Guyana may be cooler. The rest of the country is expected to experience warmer nights.
Hydromet has also issued a Short-Term Drought Concern warning, particularly in the Rupununi region, urging close monitoring of water sources and encouraging measures to protect domestic, industrial, and agricultural supplies.
“We can only try our best to do what we can, but we don’t have any influence on what’s going to be happening on a large scale in terms of the climate, but what we can do is try and reduce these other effects on different species,” Erin said.
Taking Action: What Can Be Done?
Despite mounting concerns, there are still ways to protect Guyana’s wildlife—if timely and strategic actions are taken.
One critical area is limiting hunting, curbing the illegal trade in wild meat, and reducing unsustainable agriculture.
These human activities not only destroy natural habitats, but also make it harder for animals to adapt to shifting climates.
“Can we reduce or stop the hunting of these animals? Can we protect habitats? And by protecting their habitats, I mean, can we stop or not start any kind of large-scale farming? Can we prevent burning in certain places? You know, these kinds of things we can do. Can we protect water courses? Can we ensure that the right type of food is available, or that we are not taking the food from species that need it?” Erin asked.
Exploring Wildlife Farming
Another option for safeguarding biodiversity, though complex, is wildlife farming.
Guyana has already begun exploring this with some success, particularly in the conservation of river turtles.
Over the past two decades, the SRCS has received ongoing reports from South Rupununi residents about a sharp decline in Yellow-spotted River Turtles (Podonemis unifilis).
Between 2021 and 2023, unseasonal rainfall flooded nesting beaches along the Rupununi River, causing many turtle nests to be destroyed. In response, over 2,000 eggs were rescued with the help of indigenous communities.
More recently, severe dry conditions have posed new threats—hatchlings baked in their nests or exposed to predators due to low river levels. SRCS rangers have responded by relocating them to deeper pools.
“What we can do is we can, properly, with some species, do some kind of wildlife farming. And that’s what we’re trying to do with the river turtles. We’re trying to do something with the Capybaras. But it’s very difficult. It’s very tricky.”
—
This story was originally published by The Guyana Chronicle, with the support of the Caribbean Climate Justice Journalism Fellowship, which is a joint venture between Climate Tracker Caribbean and Open Society Foundations.
