I have had a fair amount of experience estimating and measuring large constrictors in the 10 to 20 feet range over many years, and have reviewed 5 or 6 videos of the green anaconda at Gurnee Mills. I would estimate this individual’s length at around 19 or 20 feet. There are several objects that can be used for scale in the videos, the best being a woman's head and a man's hand next to the glass against which the anaconda is laying. The girth of the snake appears to be less than 12 inches at the largest point. In one video there is an adult gaboon in a neighboring cage that can also be used for scale. This is definitely a large green, but nowhere near the 27 feet claim. In one video, the tour guide even says that it was 22 feet.



This same company had a large anaconda at their Wisconsin Dells site about a decade ago. I saw that green in person, and it was slightly larger than this one. I estimated it at about 21 or 22 feet. It was very dark in color and was in very bad condition. It was quite thin and had obviously not been feeding for a long time. I believe it died not too long afterwards.



The most massive green that I have seen is the one in the National Zoo in Washington. It's probably about 18 or 19 feet, and would definitely outweigh the green at Gurnee Mills.



Kelly

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