The emerging problem of the irrigation system for wildlife in the Brazilian Cerrado

• First documented maned wolf mortality in Brazilian open-air irrigation canals. • Open-air canals are an overlooked but serious threat to Cerrado biodiversity. • Maned wolf deaths highlight broader conservation risks in irrigated landscapes. • Weak environmental licensing omits key mitigation for wildlife impacts. • Integrated action needed: governance, market pressure and scientific evidence. The rapid expansion of irrigation infrastructure in the Brazilian Cerrado is creating new challenges for biodiversity conservation. In this study, we report the first documented cases of maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) killed by open irrigation canals in Brazil, a previously unrecognized threat to the species' survival in agricultural landscapes. Beyond its impact on maned wolves, these findings suggest that such structures pose a widespread but overlooked danger to native Cerrado fauna. Currently, environmental licensing for irrigation projects lacks legal requirements to mitigate wildlife impacts, representing a critical policy gap. To address this issue, coordinated efforts integrating scientific research, governance reforms, and market driven solutions are urgently needed to prevent further biodiversity loss in these rapidly changing ecosystems.