Our Team
CEO & FOUNDER
Reservations
Wildlife Tour Guide
Pilot
Pilot
Wildlife Tour Guide
Wildlife Tour Guide
Wildlife Tour Guide
Wildlife Tour Guide
Veterinary Medicine
Eduarda fernandes
Eduarda Fernandes better know as ‘’Duda’’ is a Brazilian wildlife naturalist guide focused on Jaguar film and photographic safaris,born and raised in Cuiabá Mato Grosso. After graduating shemoved to Pantanal and spent her time learning and acquiring local knowledge with ”Pantaneiros” (the people that live in the Pantanal).Developing a passion for wildlife and learning with pioneers shehas extensive experience in leading wildlife tour for over 7 years in Pantanal and ample experienced working in extreme environments.
Working in a “macho” world of guides and boat drivers – her passion & strong personality broke many norms and prejudices as one of the only women guides, boat drivers and Tour Agency Owners. Time and great efforts have brought her to be an experienced guide and tour leader in Pantanal, developing and leading photography and filming crew in Pantanal.
Eduarda created the Wild Jaguar Photographic Safaris, wanting to offer a different level of tourism in the Pantanal. Perfecting every little detail from the reservation to the realization of ones dream trip. Eduarda strives to make sure that everything will be truly unforgettable.
Duda is proud for her company to be a part of tourism conservation efforts. Her agency will commit to donating 10% of all profits to local social and conservation projects. Actively participating in social and conservation projects, Eduarda fights for sustainable tourism for both the local people and
the local fauna.
Juliana Rodrigues
Juliana Rodrigues was born in São Paulo, is passionate about traveling, loves living new adventures and discovering new things, and with that free spirit of hers, she works with dedication to deliver the best for her clients.
Graduated in Physical Education andPedagogy, she worked in the field of education for many years, she has workedas an English teacher teaching childrenand adults, and has always been concernedwith forming responsible citizens, awareabout the world we live in.Her passion for environmental conservation and tourism brought her toWild Jaguar PhotoSafaris.
She brings with her experience of lifeabroad, she did an exchange program inthe United States, where she studied andworked in Indiana between 2015-2016 andlater worked with customer service inMassachusetts (2019), she also lived inSpain (2024), where she studied Spanishfor 1 year and worked in the commercialarea in the city of Barcelona, Juliana is nowpart of the Wild
Jaguar reservations teamto help you organize your dream trip to thePantanal.
MARCOS FÉLIX
Born in Diamantino and raised in the heart of the Amazon, in São José do Rio Claro, Marcos Félix has always had a deep connection with nature.
Initially working in agriculture, he discovered his true passion in ecotourism and became a professional naturalist guide in Cuiabá over 20 years ago.
Specializing in guiding English-speaking tourists, including American and British visitors, Marcos leads immersive expeditions in the Pantanal, one of the world’s most biodiverse regions.
His work focuses on wildlife photography, particularly jaguar conservation, using the beauty of these majestic felines to inspire environmental preservation.
Marcos has collaborated with various television crews, including the BBC, helping to showcase the wonders of the Pantanal to global audiences. A passionate birdwatcher and jaguar enthusiast, he spends his days from sunrise to sunset in the wild, sharing knowledge and creating unforgettable experiences for visitors from around the world.
For Marcos, being a naturalist guide is more than just a job—it’s a privilege. Through his work, he not only highlights the incredible biodiversity of the Pantanal but also raises awareness about the importance of conservation.
LUCAS LIMA
Lucas Lima da Silva, 27, is originally from Minas Gerais and works as a certified tour guide with a degree in Biology. With a background in wildlife rehabilitation, he combines strong scientific knowledge with practical field experience, always emphasizing environmental education and responsible tourism.
As both a guide and a biologist, Lucas is passionate about sharing Brazil’s
extraordinary biodiversity while ensuring that wildlife is observed respectfully
and without disturbing natural behavior. He believes tourism plays an important role in promoting awareness and fostering a deeper understanding of the need to protect our ecosystems.
What motivates him most is the opportunity to connect people with nature.
Through close encounters with wildlife, Lucas enjoys explaining the importance of conservation and inspiring visitors to appreciate and protect the natural world.
LAILSON MARQUES
I was born on Brazil’s coast and spent my formative years between the untamed landscapes of the Pantanal and the rich cultural traditions of the Northeast.
Growing up with my grandparents in the countryside, surrounded by birds and other wildlife, instilled in me a deep appreciation for nature that continues to shape my life.
I am a certified tour guide, registered with Cadastur, Brazil’s official tourism
registry. I lead bespoke tours for individuals and groups from around the world, with a focus on wildlife photography and birdwatching across Brazil’s most iconic natural regions. In the Pantanal, I specialize in birdwatching, jaguar observation and encounters with other remarkable species such as giant anteaters, giant river otters, tapirs, and more, while also guiding in
the Cerrado, parts of the Amazon, and the Atlantic Rainforest.
My work is grounded in local knowledge, scientific awareness, and a strong
commitment to conservation. I collaborate closely with local communities and
researchers to ensure that my tours are not only educational but also contribute meaningfully to regional conservation efforts. I also take pride in promoting ethical wildlife-watching practices that prioritize animal welfare and the preservation of their habitats.
As a multilingual professional, I work with a broad international clientele. I’m
skilled at communicating across cultures, resolving challenges in the field, and adapting swiftly to changing conditions to ensure each tour is both safe and rewarding. I’ve guided photographers, nature enthusiasts, and documentary teams from different parts of the world—including the BBC—during the filming of the magnificent, yet threatened, Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) in the Amazon.
My goal is to offer meaningful and respectful encounters with nature and to
share the beauty and ecological significance of Brazil’s wildlife. By connecting with the natural world and striving to protect it, I believe we can all take greater responsibility for safeguarding these extraordinary environments for generations to come.
GIOVANNA LEITE
Giovanna Leite is a Brazilian biologist, wildlife photographer, and safari guide.
A lover of all living beings, she has dedicated her life to wildlife conservation
since discovering her vocation in biology.
Born and raised in São Paulo, she initially worked primarily in the Atlantic
Rainforest.
Her professional journey includes work at a wildlife rehabilitation center in São Paulo, as well as collaboration with an NGO focused on the conservation of hawksbill turtles in Rio Grande do Norte.
In recent years, everything changed when Giovanna moved to Mato Grosso do Sul, in the heart of the southern Pantanal. There, she worked monitoring jaguars with Onçafari, a Brazilian NGO dedicated to wildlife conservation.
Through this experience, she received professional training and became a safari guide, leading tours and observing Pantanal wildlife more closely.
Through this close connection with nature, her passion for photography truly
emerged.
PIO
Joadir Pio, born and raised in the heart of the Pantanal, is recognized as one of the most experienced and respected jaguar-watching boat pilots in Porto Jofre.
A true Pantaneiro, he grew up along the rivers, where he began his working life as a professional fisherman for more than two decades alongside his family.
With the growth of fishing tourism, he became a boat pilot, guiding anglers from all over the country. Later, with the rise of jaguar safaris, Pio directed his skills toward wildlife tourism, specializing in wildlife photography and filming.
His talent quickly attracted the attention of renowned international teams,
including Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and photographer Steve
Winter. His ability to read the environment with precision, his deep knowledge of the rivers, and his sensitivity in understanding jaguar behavior make him a remarkable professional, capable of positioning his clients for the best opportunities to capture unique photographic moments.
Over more than 32 years dedicated to tourism in the Pantanal, Pio has
established his name as a true legend of Porto Jofre, making a significant
contribution to the development of jaguar-watching tourism in the region.
Today, he divides his time between his work with Wild Jaguar PhotoSafaris and his passion for horses and ranch life—keeping alive the traditions of the
Pantanal that shaped his story.
CHUDÉ
José Luiz, widely known as Chudé, was born in the region of Barão de Melgaço and raised on Piraim Island, in the heart of the Pantanal. It was there, alongside his parents, that he learned from an early age what it truly means to live the life of a Pantaneiro.
Growing up surrounded by rivers and wildlife, he learned to row a canoe as a
child and gradually developed his skills handling boats. In 1997, he began
working as a piloteiro, guiding visitors through the waterways of the Pantanal.
Over the years, his dedication and experience led him to become the captain of large vessels, navigating the vast river systems and knowing every curve of these iconic waterways.
With deep knowledge of the Pantanal ecosystem, Chudé offers visitors a rare
opportunity to immerse themselves in the region’s wildlife with great care,
professionalism, and safety.
Decades of experience on the rivers have made him one of the most respected wildlife piloteiros in the region. His understanding of the Pantanal and his respectful approach to jaguar behavior allow guests to experience
unforgettable wildlife encounters while preserving the natural balance of this
extraordinary environment.
ZAINE MOHAMED
“Zaine Mohamed Dib, born in Mato Grosso, Brazil, has been working with nature for the past 20 years.
Passionate about her workand the local culture, she believes life is a journey of continuous learning.
Her dedication to natureand ecotourism has shapedher career and personal growth, inspiring a deep connection with the environment and the people she works with.”
RAFAEL Hoogesteijn
Rafael Hoogesteijn graduated as a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine from the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences at the Central University of Venezuela in 1978.
Then he earned a Master’s degree in Wildlife Management and Conservation at the University of Florida in Gainesville, USA in 1996. Over a span of 40 years, he focused on research with beef cattle and buffalo dual-purpose herds in neotropical flooded savannas, working in private practice and NGOs. His husbandry expertise includes work with large-scale private cattle and water buffalo ranches in Latin America.
His work focuses on the efficient management of ranches and their feline predation issues, also as consultant on enhancing production and establishing field-proof Anti-Predation Strategies in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Belize, Bolivia, and Panama across over 50 Pilot Ranches/Farms. As part of the Cat Specialist Group of IUCN member since 1986, he served as an adviser to the Wildlife Conservation Society and coached cattlemen organizations in Venezuela (Asocebú, Convecar) and Brazil (ABPO).
As an expert mammalogist, he has also collaborated with the Terramar Foundation to lead field research expeditions in Venezuela’s Tepuyes Mountains and other parts of Venezuela.
During his tenure at Panthera from January 2008 to July 2024, he served as an advisor on feline/livestock conflict resolution in Latin America, based in the Northern Pantanal, and contributing to collaborative efforts with several local Panthera teams across the jaguars’ distribution range. He started and managed Panthera Brazil and Panthera’s Pantanal Conservation Ranch, Fazenda Jofre Velho—an experimental effort to refine depredation mitigation methods and collaborative efforts with the local community in education, medical health, and jaguar oriented tourism and conservation in the Porto Jofre region of the Northern Pantanal. He served as supervisor of both entities from 2014 to 2023.
With extensive experience and a deep understanding of the flooded savannas Biomes and the tropical cattlemen world, along with fluency in five languages and a robust portfolio of conferences and publications, his work and expertise have shown that beef cattle and buffalo production can be feasible and profitable without the need for large-scale ecological changes in neotropical flooded savannas like the Pantanal and the Llanos, working with the alternate yearly seasons of floods & droughts, while conserving jaguars and other wildlife, and promoting tourism.
