16-Foot Anaconda Swims With Largest Rodent In Stomach

Story ByAlex CopeSub EditorJoseph GolderAgencyCentral European News

Video Credit:CEN

This is the moment a 16-foot anaconda is filmed swimming through the waters of a Brazilian river with its stomach massively bloated after eating the world’s largest rodent.

The startling scenes were recorded by an onlooker on the banks of the Parana River in Aparecida do Taboado, a municipality located in the western Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul in an area reported popular with local fishermen.

Local media report the video was recorded after a group of tourists spotted the five-metre (16-foot) anaconda eating a capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) – the world’s largest living rodent which can weigh up to 91 kilogrammes (201 lbs).

Picture Credit:CEN

In the video, the huge anaconda can be seen swimming in the water with its stomach massively swollen after eating the rodent.

Onlookers appear to splash it with water before it swims away and rolls onto its side.

Subtenant Braguini from the Environmental Military Police in the region told reports the snake was using an area of branches to rest as it digested its meal.

He added: “As it uses its muscles and contraction to move, it is having difficulties because of the size of prey it swallowed.”

Braguini added that the snake had probably eaten its prey moments before the video and added: “As it made a very big effort to kill the capybara, it was looking for support (branches) to not be floating, so the digestive process had not even started.”

“You can film and take photos but leave the animal in peace. Don’t throw stones, don’t annoy it. It needs tranquillity to digest its food.”

The exact species of anaconda has not been reported.

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