A Dutch researcher who helped discover the snake shared he was ‘sad and angry’ after hearing the news and called the anaconda’s killers ‘sick.’
Biologist Professor Freek Vonk shared the news on Instagram, posting: ‘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.’
Vonk also called the discovery of the northern green anaconda a ‘highlight’ of his scientific career.