Reptile & Amphibian Forums

.
-----
Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
"Indigo"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

`
-----

I volunteer at our local zoo and one of my jobs is as an animal handler - I basically handle program/education animals, allow people to interact/touch them (depending on the animal) and answer questions about them. My favorite animals to talk about and show are the snakes. We have a green anaconda in one of our buildings and I'm just waiting for someone to bring up the anaconda and the movie and all the misrepresentations about them. I have things that I say to people to debunk some of their misunderstandings about snakes in general, but I just know someone is going to bring up the idea that anacondas are evil maneating snakes. Some references I've found say that there have been attacks (mistaken identity, etc) but no documented cases of human deaths. I wasn't sure how accurate or current this information was and didn't want to tell it to people if it's not true.

Sorry for my vague original post.
-----
Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
"Indigo"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

` I have been searching for documented, believable evidence of human death caused by an Anaconda for many years.
` Since the Internet has gotten so powerful, I've been searching even more. Lots of doctored pictures, lots of anecdotal hot air.
` Melissa Kaplan's "Facts on Human Deaths in the U.S.", will give some perspective. www.anapsid.org/pdv-boid.html
` I have read, and heard, many experts say that there has been no verified report of an Anaconda killing a human in South America. Sadly, that too, is anecdotal.
`
` The bottom line is this: A large Anaconda, or any other large constrictor, has the strength to kill a human, period.
` When I watch the things people do on skateboards, I figure Anacondas are way down there on the threat list.
` I'd bet that all the attacks in the wild are caused by intrusion. Same as with rattlesnakes.
` Do they let you handle the Anaconda at the zoo?

` This is a good topic for Renee.

` Hey, Renee....

` I do have this pic of a verified fatality by Anaconda.

-----

.....

` That's one advantage to keeping Anacondas. Whenever you need a hug, they're always ready to give you one. There's noting like getting a hug from a being that has no agenda, about it. All they want is a few BTUs.

-----

At least I know I can say with certainty that there have not been any documented cases.

No one handles our anaconda at the zoo. The last time she was actually handled was 2 years ago because they thought she might have had some medical problem. At that time they took the rare opportunity to get a weight and measurement on her. Keepers do go in her exhibit to clean the rockwork and water. She also has fish in her pond (small fish) that they have to care for. Usually though, they are able to get her to come off exhibit when they need to go in (she'll also come off to eat). But if they can't get her off they will go in there in a pair. One to stand by with a radio and the other to do the work. She is absolutely beautiful. She has a small ledge above her pond and even further up she can climb to a big private ledge - she usually goes there when in shed. It's amazing to see her climb that high.
-----
Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
"Indigo"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

-

She was last weighed & measured on 3/13/02.
She was 14 feet, 143 lbs.
She was born 2/25/85 @ the Bronx zoo and currently resides at the Indianpolis Zoo in Indianapolis, Indiana.

I worked today and took my camera to try and get some pics of her, but my battery died on me. Which is frustrating because she was really posing today. Sometimes it can be difficult to see her as we provide her with places she can go and hide if she wants. Better luck next time!
-----
Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
"Indigo"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

Yes, I would be very interested in seeing photos of her. She must be one solid female to have that weight at 14 feet. Bill Holmstrom at the Bronx Zoo, is responsible for a large part of the existing captive breeding data for Eunectes and numerous litters were produced there. Thanks again,

Kelly

I don't have to work again until next weekend, but as soon as I can get some pics I'll post them - hopefully she'll be in a mood to pose again. If not it may take me longer to get pics.
-----
Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
"Indigo"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

There are a few authenticated attacks on humans by green anacondas, but none of these resulted in the death of the individual. They were believed to be due to the person approaching the unseen snake and being mistaken for a prey animal. I believe one of these individuals was Maria Munoz (Renee could verify this ), and one of the others was a friend of Bill Lamar. There are other non-verified attacks that were said to have resulted in death, but evidence was lacking. Considering the authenticated attacks that are known, I am fairly certain that at some point in history, a person has more than likely been killed by an anaconda in the wild. However, this would obviously be an extremely rare event. Reticulated pythons and african rock pythons, on the other hand, both have verified accounts of the killing and ingesting of smaller humans. These numerical differences could in part be due to human population densities; the highly populated areas in which these two snakes are found as opposed to the relatively sparsely populated amazon basin. Makes you think a little bit about wading waist deep in a remote Amazon tributary.

Kelly

Of course, I'm sure there are a few cases of "native" people (usually kids or women) getting killed by an anaconda...very hard to verify such stories, but more importantly, I don't think they are particularly important. By that, I mean if you take a wild 22' anaconda, and a 2 foot tall kid walks by it...duh...

So, at least to me, the more interesting issue is how many captive anacondas have hurt people? I have come to the conclusion almost none, and the reason being almost nobody has captive LARGE anacondas! (Of course zoos excepted, that's a different case). I may be wrong, but that's the conclusion I'm leaning towards. I have no idea what happens to all the baby anacondas bred or imported, must be given to zoos or die I guess. I openly invite rebuttals.

Hi there-

No, to date there is NOT a documented and verified account of anyone killed, or eaten, by a snake. There is also NOT a documented 30 foot long snake of any kind, ever, that has been verified.

Those are 2 big myths.

So, CAN an anaconda kill a human? Oh, you bet.

Below, is a shot of a DOCUMENTED predatory strike of a large, thin female on a human. This guy was filming us walking, (for some "The making of" film), and he wound up getting this on FILM - the 2nd only attack on a human we have ever encountered. On the film, from which these stills are taken, you can see her tongue flicking, then recoiling to strike, then she struck - but just missed her victim, since we grabbed her just before, and so she couldn't quite reach. The fellow did a world record in the high jump...

After this I was a tad bit more careful of how far I wondered from my associate when anaconda searching.

Renee