An Amazon expedition: adventurer discovers colossal green Anaconda in Peru’s untamed jungle
Before me, I gazed upon the colossal anaconda, a little over six meters long and weighing around 100 kilos, maybe more. I could not stop looking at this awe-inspiring creature, a true marvel of nature. She was immensely muscular, the largest of the boa species and the second-largest snake in the world. I watched her for a while before deciding to step into the river and bathe just inches away from her.
- 1 week ago
October 8, 2024
AMAZON, Peru — I ventured deep into the Amazon with one goal, to find the legendary green anaconda in its natural habitat. After years of encountering snakes and collecting countless stories, this moment stood out as iconic and unforgettable. I had finally come face-to-face with one of the largest specimens I ever saw.
The encounter felt nothing short of remarkable. Spotting such a massive anaconda happened out of pure luck. Sightings of this size remain extremely rare. This discovery cemented my lifelong connection with these extraordinary creatures.
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An early fascination with reptiles
From a young age, I loved animals and adventuring through nature. My mother often found me submerged in the bush or along the riverbanks in my native home of Chaco. From the age of four, the flora and fauna served as my playground as I invented stories and observed animals and insects in the green wilderness around me. At 10 years old, my brother-in-law brought home a snake. Touching it for the first time completely transformed me.
In 2001, at 13 years old, my parents surprised me with a trip to Africa. We flew to South Africa and experienced unforgettable moments surrounded by wild animals, opening up a world I never wanted to leave. I remember visiting a snake sanctuary where I came face-to-face with a black mamba.
I saw the snake countless times in books and documentaries, but never up close. Pressing my face against the cold glass of the tank, I marveled at every detail. The snake’s color, movement, and eyes captivated me. That same trip afforded me the chance to handle a python. Feeling its strength as it wrapped around my arm left me ecstatic.
When I returned home, my fascination with snakes intensified. I bought more books, watched endless documentaries, and acquired several species as my passion grew by the day. Soon, I mapped out five dream destinations. I wanted to explore the environments of the most iconic snake species of Australia, Africa, Southeast Asia, the Amazon, and India. Today, I feel fortunate to say I have experienced them all. My passion for these animals inspired me to study veterinary medicine with a focus on ophidians. I soon sought destinations where I could observe and rescue different species of snakes around the world. This opened the door to an incredible life experience.
Interacting with snakes reveals a new universe
Each destination I visit in pursuit of recording and interacting with snakes reveals a new universe. In India, I vividly remember holding a small spectacled cobra in my hand, breaking all kinds of personal barriers. In Indonesia, I teamed up with Reptile Rescue to relocate King Cobra eggs, one of the most venomous and intelligent snakes in the world. We carefully removed the eggs from their mother’s nest, ensuring their safety while minimizing harm. Every experience deepened my connection to these fascinating creatures.
King cobras spend most of the year high in the mountains with little to no contact with humans. However, during the breeding season, they descend into the valleys to build nests, something no other snake species does. For 70 days, the mother coils around her eggs, becoming extremely vulnerable and aggressive. Unfortunately, during this time, villagers often burn their nests and kill them out of fear.
Rescuing and relocating their eggs becomes critical. I joined experts in these operations, carefully observing as they handled the nearly five-meter-long King Cobra mothers, who poised in full defense mode. It felt both shocking and awe-inspiring to watch. While they gently removed the mothers, we carefully relocated the eggs to safe areas, ensuring they remained close to their mothers but out of immediate danger.
Over the years, my passion for reptiles took me around the globe, from Asia’s dense jungles to Australia’s deserts. I explored the United States, the jungles of Colombia and Brazil, and nearly every corner of Latin America. But the heart of the Amazon, where the giant anaconda roams, remained my ultimate dream.
Journey to the Peruvian Amazon: in search of the giant Anaconda
Finally, I flew to Peru and ventured into the southern Amazon, in the region known as Madre de Dios. Snake sightings remained rare due to cold winds from the mountains or friaje. During the day it remained hot but temperatures dropped at night. As I trekked deeper into the jungle, I encountered an incredible number of species—vast migrations of ants, snakes, spiders, scorpions, wasps, bees, and even jaguars. Every step required intense focus, demanding respect at every turn.
The search for an anaconda happens during the day, unlike other snakes, which you typically find at night with flashlights. Anacondas can often be spotted sunbathing on the riverbanks, making daytime the prime time for tracking them. After six days of intense hiking, we found only one tiny snake, just 10 centimeters long.
Frustrated but determined, I left and flew to the heart of the Amazon, to the legendary Iquitos. There, I spent four days deep in the jungle. On one of our anaconda hunts, we sailed for 10 hours along the Tahuayo River, a tributary of the Amazon. I stayed alert, soaking in the atmosphere, breathing the jungle air, and capturing every moment with my camera.
We received a tip about a possible sighting of a massive anaconda in the area, so we followed the lead. Traveling through the Amazon felt like stepping into an entirely different realm. The rivers, large and small, wind through the thick, towering jungle, creating an endless maze of water and trees. The energy of the jungle felt palpable. It teemed with life, from microorganisms to trees stretching 30 to 40 meters high.
Mythical M’boi Jaguá: “As we reached the bank of one of the river branches, I saw it—giant and coiled.”
We navigated through the mist, eventually switching to a smaller boat to travel deeper upriver for another two to three hours. Entering this environment felt like being submerged in a humid, living universe brimming with biodiversity. Everything felt alive—the enormous leaves, the water-soaked air, and the ground itself. As I moved deeper into the jungle, my mind raced with a thousand possibilities.
I ran through every scenario, analyzing all the variables, from my first move when I encountered the snake, to how the entire interaction might unfold. One thing remained certain: I did not want to experience the usual encounter where I grabbed the snake by the neck to prevent it from biting or escaping. I aimed to engage with the anaconda in a way that respected its space, minimizing stress and avoiding any confrontation.
My thoughts spiraled as I crafted countless scenarios of how to achieve this peaceful encounter. Suddenly, we picked up signs of the Anaconda’s presence. As we reached the bank of one of the river branches, I saw it—giant and coiled. It looked breathtaking. There she was, the queen of the Amazon, the legendary and mythical M’boi Jaguá.
I felt ecstatic. A rush of adrenaline surged through me, flooding my senses. At that moment, I felt like a child again, lost in the magic of a new adventure. Fortunately, she appeared calm, basking in the sun, having just eaten. This adult female likely digesting a capybara or another mammal from the area. Her stillness gave us a rare opportunity to observe her in her natural habitat without disturbing her.
A creature of immense power: colossal anaconda, a little over six meters long and weighing around 100 kilos
If she had not just eaten, we could have easily missed her. When hunting, anacondas become nearly invisible, perfectly camouflaged with their surroundings. After a successful hunt, they can no longer dive due to increased weight. Instead, they bask in the sun to digest their prey, leaving them exposed and unhidden. Before me, I gazed upon the colossal anaconda, a little over six meters long and weighing around 100 kilos, maybe more.
I could not stop looking at this awe-inspiring creature, a true marvel of nature. She was immensely muscular, the largest of the boa species and the second-largest snake in the world. I watched her for a while before deciding to step into the river and bathe just inches away from her. I felt thrilled. Fear never crossed my mind; I understood the Anaconda’s behavior and limits, and I applied that knowledge in my interaction. I just had to stay alert and approach with respect, careful not to disturb her.
If she became startled, she could regurgitate her prey, which would have been disastrous. I looked at her powerful head and saw her undeniable strength. Had she not eaten recently, any attempt to handle her could prove fatal. The anaconda could easily wrap around my head, and I lacked the strength to escape. Her 100 backward-curving teeth would inflict serious injuries if she bit me. This species is capable of extending its jaws wide enough to encircle the shoulders of an adult human—truly a creature of immense power.
A rare glimpse into the mysterious world of Amazonian wildlife
The guide beside me looked on with wide eyes and an indescribable smile. He spent 10 years in the Peruvian Amazon, and this became his first sighting of such a massive specimen. I feel privileged to dedicate my life to collecting unique experiences that few will ever encounter. While my journeys are always in search of snakes, being immersed in nature teaches me something new every time, allowing me to interact with the environment and the countless other species living there.
Though I face dangerous situations and experience close calls—like being bitten or narrowly avoiding a bite from several snakes—I always manage to escape true risk. So far, I never used antivenom in any of my experiences, though it remains a risk I willingly take. I know the danger, but I prefer to rely on my knowledge and experience. I understand how close I can safely get and how to read the behavior of each species.
There are certain snakes I will not attempt to handle. Soon, I will continue my adventures by exploring Argentina’s Esteros del Iberá, El Impenetrable Chaqueño, and the Paraguayan Chaco. Next year, I plan to venture to Suriname and the Guianas. Looking ahead at the long-term future, I aim for Papua New Guinea, a remote, extreme, and dangerous place, home to wild animals and cannibal tribes like the Korowai.
These experiences are often far from tourist destinations, and some explorers have even vanished attempting to journey to Papua New Guinea. To some, perhaps it seems insane, but to me, the risk is worth it. Venturing into the unknown, uncovering what the jungle holds, and encountering the world’s most iconic species is the path I choose to follow.
