The world’s largest snake which measured more than 26 feet long and weighed more than 440 pounds has been shot dead by hunters.
The Northern Green Anaconda dubbed Ana Julia was discovered five weeks ago in the Amazon Rainforest in remote Brazil.
She was as thick as a car tyre with a human-sized head – and first gained fame after TV wildlife presenter and Dutch biologist Professor Freek Vonk, 40, was filmed swimming next to her.
After hearing the news of Ana Julia’s death, Professor Vonk said he was ‘sad and angry’, referring to the hunters who killed her as ‘sick’.
Ana Julia was found dead in the Formoso River in the rural area of Bonito, southern Brazil, on March 24.
According to wildlife filmmaker Cristian Dimitris, the dead snake is the same as the one filmed swimming with Vonk.
He said: ‘I compared the markings on her face, which are like fingerprints. It must be the most famous anaconda in the world, totally emblematic of the region.
‘Images of the snake have already travelled the world.’
The snake’s identity was also confirmed by an anaconda specialist and researcher at the University of São Paulo, Juliana Terra, who called Ana Julia a ‘symbol for the Bonito region’.
After being informed of Ana Julia’s death, Professor Vonk said: ‘With a lot of pain in my heart, I would like to let you know that the mighty big anaconda I swam with was found dead in the river.
‘I have heard from various sources that she was shot dead, although there is still no official confirmation on the cause of death.
‘I’m so sad and so angry at the same time. How sick do you have to be to do this to such a beautiful and unique animal?
‘As far as we know, she was super healthy and still in the prime of her life, so she could have produced many offspring in the years to come.
‘As there are not many of these colossal giant snakes swimming around, the blow to biodiversity is enormous. She was the largest snake I had ever seen with my own eyes. I swam next to her for at least an hour.
‘And the intriguing thing was that she seemed completely unperturbed by my presence. I hope the perpetrators are found and prosecuted because this kind of behaviour must be severely punished.’
Professor Vonk said he hopes for more ‘clarity’ as a large-scale police investigation is underway.
The academic was one of 15 scientists involved in the discovery of the Northern Green Anaconda – before then, only one species of Green Anaconda was recognised in the Amazon.
The Northern Green Anaconda’s discovery was published in a study in the scientific journal Diversity on February 16.
Professor Jesus Rivas, the lead author of the study, explained that they first realised there was more than one species of green anaconda over 15 years ago.
Along with his wife Dr Sarah Corey-Rivas, they started to analyse samples to look for genetic differences.
Professor Rivas told What’sTheJam: ‘I have been studying anacondas for 32 years so this begs the question of how many other species there are that we do not know about.
‘This finding humbles the mind regarding the true diversity of South America.’
An investigation into Ana Julia’s death is being carried out by the Environmental Military Police.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE : Ghost shark with ‘feathers’ and a sex organ on its head found in the deep
MORE : British woman gored by yak while climbing near Mount Everest
MORE : Sperm whales are using defensive diarrhoea to escape orca attacks
Get your need-to-know
latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
