In the year 2024, a team of 15 international biologists discovered a new species of green anaconda in the Amazon rainforest. Ana Julia, measuring nearly 8 meters in length and weighing up to 200 kg, was found to be different from any other green anaconda species in the region due to a 5.5% genetic difference. Professor Freek Vonk, one of the biologists on the discovery team, was saddened and angry upon hearing about Ana Julia’s death on March 24.
Vonk emphasized the importance of Ana Julia’s existence, noting that she was healthy and in her prime reproductive years, making her loss a significant blow to biodiversity. He recounted his experience swimming with Ana Julia, describing her as an impressive creature with distinctive facial markings that confirmed her identity after her death.
The discovery of this new species adds to our understanding of the green anaconda population in the Amazon. Until now, only one species had been recognized in the region, but genetic analysis revealed a significant genetic difference between the northern green anaconda and the previously known population. This genetic variation is significant as humans and chimpanzees only have a 2% genetic difference between them.
Researchers are concerned about the threats facing green anacondas in light of climate change and deforestation in the Amazon. The destruction of their natural habitat poses a severe risk to their survival as more than a fifth of the Amazon has already been lost due to deforestation. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect these magnificent creatures and ensure their continued existence in the wild.
