Researcher Lydia Möcklinghoff Killed in Brazil Plane Crash

German zoologist and science communicator Lydia Möcklinghoff, 45, died on 3 July 2026 when her twin‑engine Embraer/Neiva EMB‑810D “Seneca” crashed shortly after take‑off from Santa Maria airport near Campo Grande, Brazil. The aircraft, piloted by 42‑year‑old Henrique Martin de Carvalho, vanished in dense fog and fell into a forested area of the Pantanal. Both occupants were killed; the Brazilian aviation authority Cenipa has opened an investigation.

Möcklinghoff, known to the public as the “Maus‑Forscherin” for her work on the Sendung mit der Maus, was a leading expert on the giant anteater. Since 2009 she conducted field research in the Pantanal, combining ecological studies with community‑based conservation. She collaborated closely with the Zoo Dortmund, which praised her contributions to both science and public outreach. Colleagues, fans and former classmates expressed grief on social media, recalling her engaging storytelling and dedication to biodiversity education.