An impressive anaconda discovered during the filming of a Will Smith documentary

a Anaconda The size of a monster that may be the largest in the world was discovered in the Ecuadorian Amazon during the filming of a travel documentary he presented will Smith.

The nearly 10-million-year-old reptile called anaconda was found by a team of scientists from the University of Queensland and Huaorani indigenous people in the Pamino area of ​​Paihoiri Waorani territory, according to a press release.

Professor Brian Fry, lead scientist, said: “The size of these magnificent creatures was unbelievable, with the female anaconda we found measuring 6.3 meters (20.6 feet) long.”

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Scientists made this discovery after receiving an invitation from the Waorani people to search for anacondas while filming “Pole to Pole with Will Smitha National Geographic series that airs on Disney+.

“The indigenous hunters took us into the jungle on a 10-day expedition to hunt for these snakes, which they consider sacred,” Fry said. “We canoeed through the river system, and were lucky enough to find several anacondas lurking in the shallow water, searching for their prey.”

Types of this Anaconda The northern green anaconda separated from the southern green anaconda approximately 10 million years ago, and differs genetically by 5.5%, according to Fry, who explained the importance of the new species by pointing out that humans differ genetically from chimpanzees by only 2%.

“There are unofficial reports from the Waorani people of another anaconda in the area that was more than 7.5 meters (25 feet) long and weighed about 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds),” said Fry, who described the discovery as “the highlight of my career.”

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“Deforestation in the river basin Amazon He added that agricultural expansion has led to habitat loss of between 20% and 31%, which could affect up to 40% of its forests by 2050.

“The discovery of a new species of anaconda is exciting, but it is essential to highlight the urgent need to continue researching these threatened species and ecosystems,” he says.Fry said. “It is not only these giant snakes that face environmental threats, but almost all living creatures in the area.”