Joe Biden wandered into the Amazon rainforest after giving a speech warning of the dangers of climate change.
Dressed in a blue open-neck shirt, dark trousers and his signature Aviator sunglasses, the 81-year-old outgoing US president turned away from the stage and strolled into the greenery.
The purpose of the photocall was to highlight the dangers of global warming, which have been dismissed by his successor, Donald Trump.
After previously visiting Lima, the Peruvian capital, Biden traveled to Manaus, the largest city in the Brazilian Amazon.
He had flown by helicopter over the junction of the Amazon and Negro rivers and witnessed first-hand the dramatic drop in water levels caused by the worst drought in decades.
He highlighted the role of trees in sucking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere after meeting with tribal leaders.
“The world's forest trees breathe carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and yet the world is cutting down the equivalent of ten football fields of forest every minute,” he said.
He also announced a $50 million (£40 million) donation to the Amazon Fund, bringing the total US contribution to $100 million.
Mr Biden added that he would leave the next administration with strong climate policies to build on, if they chose to do so.
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