Man Catches Giant Anaconda Swimming in River with Bare Hands.
A group of three people, including Sirlei Oliveira, her husband Betinho Borges, and their friend Rodrigo Santos, were canoeing on the Santa Maria River in the southwestern state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, when they unexpectedly encountered a large snake. The anaconda measured approximately 5.2 meters long and was swimming beneath their small boat. Its belly bulged, indicating it had just consumed a massive meal. Borges quickly poked at the snake with a paddle as it tried to escape.
Betinho Borges steering the boat while Santos attempts to grab the anaconda’s tail.
“Leave it alone! Oh my God!” Oliveira shouted as her husband continued to tease the snake. The anaconda immediately swam away, distancing itself from the group for a few seconds before the boat turned around and chased after it. Borges was at the helm while Santos attempted to grab the snake’s tail and pull it back.
However, due to the snake’s immense size, they were pulled along for quite a distance. Ultimately, all three had to concede to the creature and let it return to its natural habitat.
After images of their encounter with the giant anaconda were shared online, the Mato Grosso do Sul police warned that they could face a $600 fine for animal cruelty. They could also face up to 1.5 years in prison if convicted of hunting wildlife without a permit under environmental laws.
Nonetheless, their lawyer stated that the three individuals did not intend to commit a crime, “they just wanted to see how the animal would react, and there was no malicious intent. They are guilty, but it was carelessness and recklessness, not intentional.”
According to Brazilian wildlife experts, the giant snake featured in the video is a Yellow Anaconda, the smallest species in the family of giant South American pythons.
