While they were filming “Pole to Pole with Will Smith,” the event happened. The crew was with Professor Bryan Fry from the University of Queensland, who is an expert on reptiles and venom. He was looking into how oil extraction changes Amazonian ecosystems over time.
The group was able to get through narrow creeks and flooded forests with the help of local Waorani experts. The water was chest-deep, the mud was thick, and it was hard to see. Out of nowhere, a big snake shape came out from under the cloudy surface and right in front of the divers.
People thought the anaconda was about 7.5 meters long, which is a huge size even for the Amazon.
You can also try the “Spot the Difference” puzzle. Can you find three things that are different about the boy on the elephant?
What are three things that are different about the boy on the elephant?
Green anacondas are already some of the biggest snakes on the planet. A specimen this size is a top predator in peak condition and can kill caimans, capybaras, and big wading birds.
Will Smith, who was there to host the show instead of work with animals, watched as scientists carefully moved around the snake. What began as a dramatic scene on camera quickly turned into research with effects that would last a long time.
How male and female anacondas are not the same
Fry’s team was collecting data on anacondas, including blood samples, body measurements, and skin tissue for genetic testing. The goal was to see if there was a connection between the health of snakes and the level of pollution in rivers that were affected by oil operations nearby.
One of the most important things that were found was that the sexes were very different in size. The results showed a more complicated picture than what is often shown in popular images of big women.
Most females grow to be about five meters long, but in some places, males can grow longer and bigger. This changes how they hunt and what they eat.
These differences in body shape cause clear differences in how people act:
- Big males often hunt wading birds and aquatic animals that get pollutants from the water and sediment.
- Females hunt grazing mammals like capybaras that eat along riverbanks more often than males do.
- Bigger snakes need more energy, so they hunt animals that are higher up the food chain.
- Anacondas are top predators, which means they are good at showing how dirty the environment is. Water, fish, birds, and mammals all have toxins that build up in their bodies over time.
Anacondas’ biology was changed by pollution.
The scientists looked for heavy metals like lead and cadmium in tissue samples from these strong reptiles. These metals are often found in oil spills, extraction, and industrial runoff.
The results showed that male anacondas had levels of lead and cadmium that were up to 1,000% higher than those of females living in the same areas.
The main reason for this difference is diet. Contaminated fish, invertebrates, and sediment give wading birds metals. When snakes eat these birds, the toxins get even stronger.
Too much exposure to heavy metals is linked to:
- Decreased male fertility and irregular sperm maturation
- Harm to the kidneys and liver
- Changes in hormones that have an effect on growth and reproduction
Fry says that pollution from hydrocarbons seems to make it harder for male Amazonian anacondas to have babies. This is a big problem for populations that are already in danger because their homes are going away.
Two anacondas that look the same but aren’t
Genetic testing showed something else big in addition to pollution studies. Samples from different river systems showed that what was once thought to be one green anaconda species is actually made up of at least two different species.
The viral trend of grey hair that makes natural coverage look young again.
The viral grey hair trend says goodbye to hair dyes and hello to natural coverage that makes you look young again.
Also, read
In 2026, these four zodiac signs are expected to become millionaires as luck works in their favour.
As luck would have it, these four zodiac signs are expected to become millionaires by 2026.
Scientists found that anacondas from Ecuador and Brazil were genetically different, even though they looked and acted the same.
The snakes from Ecuador were usually bigger. The biggest females from Ecuador were about a metre longer than the biggest females from Brazil. In Ecuador, the big snake that was filmed for the Will Smith project fits this pattern.
The Brazilian species lives in a smaller area. The future of the area is less certain because of oil drilling, cutting down trees, and wetlands getting smaller.
Why separating species changes the order of conservation priorities
Realising that there are two different species changes their view on conservation a lot. What was once thought to be a common animal is now:
- A kind of Ecuadorian plant that grows in a bigger but more stressful place
- A Brazilian species that lives in a smaller area and is more likely to be affected by oil activity
People often use species-level classification to figure out how to protect habitats, get money for conservation, and make plans for habitats. A newly discovered species with a small range can quickly become a top conservation priority, especially if pollution threatens its ability to reproduce.
Anacondas keep the Amazon ecosystem healthy.
The biggest animals in the food chain are anacondas. This job gives them power, but it also makes them weak. They need a lot of food, clean water, and healthy wetlands. When oil pipelines leak or drilling makes rivers dirty, the damage spreads.
The Waorani communities help Fry’s team see these changes happen in real time. Rivers and streams that are dirty have fewer fish, sick animals, and ruined places to hunt. The health of the snakes, including the giant one that was filmed, shows how healthy the whole ecosystem is.
The anaconda, which is 7.5 meters long, is more than just a cool moment on TV. It shows how far industrial activity can go into untouched rainforest.
These big animals might not be around as much if pollution keeps getting worse. This isn’t because people hunt them, but because the ecosystems that support them start to break down.
Understanding heavy metals and bioaccumulation
This study is founded on two scientific concepts: bioaccumulation and heavy metals. Lead and cadmium are two heavy metals that are harmful even in small amounts. They can get into the water and soil in places where oil is made, where they can stick to tiny living things and sediment.
Bioaccumulation is the process by which toxins build up over time. Small organisms take in small amounts. A lot of them are eaten by bigger animals, which puts metals into their bodies. Anacondas and other top predators have the most toxins in their bodies.
People who depend on dirty rivers for food go through the same things. Because symptoms often develop slowly, long-term scientific studies are needed to find the cause.
What this discovery means for Amazon research going forward
Documentary expeditions often focus on getting dramatic footage and then moving on. This project showed a different way to do things. The team got data that changes both science and conservation policy by putting scientists in a production led by a celebrity.
Future missions might include long-term environmental monitoring, like taking samples of water, fish, and top predators on a regular basis, as well as film budgets. People in the area could also learn how to do basic checks between visits.
Using facial massage to smooth out lines and tighten skin as part of a natural skincare routine
A natural way to care for your skin is to use facial massage to tighten it and smooth out lines.
Anyone who wants to explore the Amazon’s rivers should learn this lesson. The last animals to get everything that happens upstream are the biggest snakes, caimans, and herons. Long before the news reports on the effects of stress on the rainforest, their health, numbers, and behaviour show how stressed it is.
