I found the photo at imgur, but it took a while to trace its provenance in order to confirm its authenticity. Finally found this in Brazil Dispatch in 2012:
CAMPO GRANDE, Brazil – Images of a giant anaconda being photographed underwater created a stir this week on Facebook Brazil. After the amazing images were posted and shared, many Facebook users posted comments doubting the authenticity of the photographs... Biologist Daniel De Granville, who took the pictures, assured the G1 network that the images of the huge reptile, which he estimated to be about seven meters (23 feet), are genuine and that he captured them in the Formoso River, in Bonito, 300 km (186 miles) from Campo Grande... De Granville says that the photos are original and made in a natural environment without any digital manipulation beyond the basic settings for color, sharpness and saturation. The images were captured in August 2010 in a place away from the city’s tourist attractions and in an area restricted to most visitors.More details at the link.
Addendum: A hat tip to Brazilian reader Binho for locating this ten-minute documentary video of the anaconda shown in the photo above.
I physically flinched when I saw this photo. No more swimming in Brazil for me.
ReplyDeleteBonito ("beautiful") is a natural paradise close to the paraguayan border, not far from the Iguazu Falls. It has a plenty of touristic atractions, like the Anhumas abism and the Blue Lake cave. If you like snorkeling, you can swim at Rio da Prata, which water is very warm and completely clear, with very impressive fauna and flora (don't worry, nobody was ever attacked, not even by one of the many crocodiles you can find).
DeleteAnhumas:
http://youtu.be/lxHkP2bXAm0?t=2m50s
Blue Lake cave:
http://youtu.be/KKBIQirkgo4
Rio da Prata:
http://youtu.be/swzv0sYvIxA?t=2m29s
http://youtu.be/DMWx6um0RaQ?t=33s
Snorkeling with crocs:
http://youtu.be/lr68TuMFtsc
I salute your efforts to track down the origin of the photo. It speaks well of you as a content curator.
ReplyDeleteThanks, John.
DeleteTHIS VIDEO IS "FANTÁSTICO"
ReplyDeletehttp://globotv.globo.com/rede-globo/fantastico/v/fantastico-fica-cara-a-cara-com-maior-cobra-do-brasil/2042184/
Thank you, Binho. That was an impressive video you found (and the same snake apparently). I've added the link to the post.
DeleteThank you , "Minne".....
ReplyDeleteYou will not believe: Today there is an article about the anaconda in the same portal (G1-TV GLOBO-08 march 2013) .... I think they are in tune with us...or not
Anaconda with 10 meters
http://g1.globo.com/ac/acre/noticia/2013/03/sucuri-gigante-e-fotografada-em-rio-na-fronteira-do-acre-com-bolivia.html