>>284208Dense fog, an early morning takeoff, and a crash just minutes later: Renowned giant anteater researcher Lydia Möcklinghoff has died in a plane crash in Brazil.
German zoologist Lydia Theresia Möcklinghoff lost her life in a plane crash in Brazil. The 45-year-old died on Friday (July 3, 2026) near the city of Campo Grande. The pilot of the aircraft also perished in the accident. Her death was confirmed on Möcklinghoff's Instagram profile.
The twin-engine light aircraft—an Embraer/Neiva EMB-810D "Seneca"—had taken off from Santa Maria Airport in Campo Grande shortly after 6 a.m. local time. According to Brazilian media reports, the destination was the region around Aquidauana, where Möcklinghoff intended to conduct field research.
Plane crashes shortly after takeoff
Just minutes after takeoff, the plane crashed in a wooded area near the airport. Dense fog and poor visibility prevailed that morning. It remains unclear whether this contributed to the crash. The Brazilian aviation authority, Cenipa, is investigating the cause; no findings have been released so far.
Möcklinghoff had arrived in Campo Grande from Rio de Janeiro only last Thursday. She had planned to travel on to the Pantanal on Friday.
She conducted research on anteaters in the Pantanal
Since 2009, Möcklinghoff had been dividing her time between Cologne and the Brazilian Pantanal. A native of Wilhelmshaven, she was considered a pioneer in anteater research. She was the first scientist worldwide to systematically observe the behavior of the giant anteater over a period of more than a year.
For her research, she set up camera traps and—by her own account—was among the first to discover that anteaters leave scent marks on trees.
Lydia Möcklinghoff’s body is being brought back to Germany.
In addition to her scientific work, Möcklinghoff wrote several books, produced podcasts, and worked as a freelance writer for WDR. Among other things, she reported from the Pantanal on multiple occasions for the program "Sendung mit der Maus."
According to Brazilian media, the body of the 45-year-old woman is currently being prepared for transport to Germany. She was only 45 years old.