The world’s largest snake, which was 26ft long and weighed 440 lbs, has been shot dead by hunters.
The Northern Green Anaconda was found five weeks ago in the Amazon Rainforest in remote Brazil.
She was thick as a car tyre with a head the size of a human’s.
The snake was named Ana Julia by scientists.
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But she has been found dead floating in a river.
TV wildlife presenter and Dutch biologist Professor Freek Vonk, 40, was filmed swimming next to the enormous anaconda.
After hearing the news of Ana Julia’s death, Prof Vonk said he was “sad and angry” and called the anaconda’s killers “sick”.
Ana Julia was found dead in the Formoso River in the rural area of Bonito in southern Brazil’s Mato Grosso do Sul State on Sunday (24 Mar).
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.”
This 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 shooting, Prof 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.”
He added: “I understand that a large-scale police investigation is already underway at the place where she was found, let’s hope for some more clarity soon.”
Prof Vonk 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 16 February.
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’s the Jam: “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.
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