Female anaconda kills mating partner in rare ritual caught on camera; the reason might surprise you

Time of India

2 days ago

Source: National Geographic
In a chilling and rare display of reptilian behaviour, a female green anaconda was recently photographed strangling her mate to death during mating which is an act of cannibalism rarely witnessed in the wild.
This marks only the fourth documented case of such behaviour among green anacondas, but what makes it truly extraordinary is that it's the first time this phenomenon has ever been captured on camera. The striking image has sent shockwaves through the scientific community, offering unprecedented insight into the mating rituals and aggressive instincts of these powerful snakes. It's a groundbreaking moment for herpetologists and wildlife researchers worldwide.
Photographer captures rare
green anaconda cannibalism
in Brazil's wetlands
The extraordinary moment was documented by Brazilian photographer Luciano Candisani, who had ventured into the swampy wetlands of Brazil in search of large snakes. While observing the riverbed, Candisani encountered a massive female green anaconda, known to local guides for her enormous girth — 'as thick as a truck tire.' At first, it appeared to be a standard post-mating embrace between the female and a much smaller male.
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But as Candisani continued to observe the pair for several hours, the scene took a disturbing turn.
'I couldn't actually understand what was going on at first,' Candisani told National Geographic. 'But then she dragged the male's body with her when she went into the grass.'
23-foot female anaconda consumes mate before pregnancy, expert explains rare behaviour
After witnessing the unsettling behaviour, Candisani reached out to Dr. Jesús Rivas, a noted anaconda expert and biologist at New Mexico Highlands University, who has spent more than 30 years researching anacondas in Venezuela.
According to Rivas, sexual cannibalism in anacondas, while uncommon, is a known phenomenon — and usually happens for one simple reason: nutrition.
Green anacondas are ovoviviparous, meaning they give birth to live young, and the gestation period lasts around seven months. During this time, pregnant females often go without food entirely, relying heavily on stored energy. Killing and consuming the male provides a critical boost in protein right before this demanding phase.
'A full 30 percent of her body weight goes into making babies,' Rivas explained. 'Getting an extra seven or eight kilos of meat before you go into that stage isn't such a bad idea.
' One of the key factors enabling this gruesome act is the size difference between male and female green anacondas. Females average about 12 feet in length and can grow as long as 17 feet, while males typically reach only 9 feet. In this case, Candisani estimated the female to be a staggering 23 feet long, making the male little more than prey.
This extreme sexual dimorphism — where females are far larger than males — is not uncommon in snakes, but it gives female anacondas the physical dominance to kill and even consume their mates with relative ease.
First-ever photo of green anaconda cannibalism sparks conservation call for Brazil's wetlands
According to Dr. Rivas, this is only the fourth documented case of female anaconda cannibalism, and Candisani's image is the first photographic proof of the act in progress. Until now, researchers have only speculated or reported the aftermath, never having captured the behaviour unfolding.
While Candisani did not witness the female actually consuming the male, the fact that she dragged his lifeless body into the vegetation suggests that this may have been the next step. Although the event occurred in 2012, Candisani chose to share the photo for the first time now to draw attention to the growing environmental threats in the region. The wetlands where these anacondas thrive are increasingly under threat from expanding agriculture, habitat destruction, and raging wildfires.
A major fire in the area in February 2025 took five days to bring under control, further endangering this fragile ecosystem.
By releasing the image, Candisani hopes to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the habitat of one of the world's most powerful predators — and its extraordinary, rarely seen behaviour.
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