Photographer Kim Sullivan from Indiana, USA, witnessed a 40-minute struggle between an anaconda and a caiman crocodile along the Cuiabá River.
Kim captured these dramatic images in September 2021 while searching for jaguars by boat along the river. According to the photographer, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience as it is rare to see two top predators in combat. Kim was also unsure why the caiman found itself at a disadvantage, as the anaconda certainly took some time to coil tightly around its opponent.
Caiman struggles to escape the grip of the anaconda. (Photo: Caters)
The caiman attempted to free itself while struggling to breathe as the anaconda tightened its grip. Ultimately, it submerged to drown the snake. The anaconda tried to lift its nose above the water’s surface to breathe. The caiman remained tightly coiled by the snake even after surfacing. It then disappeared under the murky river water for quite some time. Finally, the caiman managed to escape successfully. Kim and his companions did not see the anaconda again.
The caiman calmly crawled onto the shore. Kim’s group continued to watch the river surface until they saw the anaconda slither up and enter a burrow. According to Kim, the battle ended in a draw, with neither animal dead or injured.
Caiman bites back at its foe. (Photo: Caters)
The anaconda is a giant snake native to the Amazon River basin. Most of the day, the anaconda swims along rivers in search of food. They typically live alone and are quite shy, making them rarely spotted in the wild. Anacondas often conceal themselves underwater and hunt by coiling tightly around their prey, suffocating them or causing internal injuries or hemorrhaging. After the prey is dead, the anaconda will swallow the entire body.
