Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
Video Credit:CEN
This is the moment beachgoers scream in shock as a huge anaconda slithers out of the sea and onto the shoreline.
The incident was filmed on a beach in the municipality of Piedras Blancas in the north-eastern Argentine province of Entre Rios, and the video was later widely shared on social media.
According to local media, the offending reptile was a yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus), also known as the Paraguayan anaconda.
In the footage, the anaconda is seen swimming up to the shore as beachgoers scream in fear.
Some people reportedly fled the scene and left behind their towels and beach gear.
The huge snake then coils up on the shorelines and appears to enjoy a rest.
According to reports, the reptile was caught by the local authorities and removed from the beach area.
Police spokesman Jorge Fabricio Gino Mesquida told local media: “Some people enjoying a day out on our beaches got a scare when a yellow anaconda showed up.
“After its arrival, officers acted immediately and caught the animal. They took it to the El Brete natural park where they safely released it.”
Yellow anacondas are a boa species endemic to southern South America. Despite being one of the largest snakes in the world, it is smaller than its close relative the green anaconda.
It is non-venomous and kills its prey by constriction.
The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.
