Whilst some people run in the other direction at the mention of a ‘snake’, here at Colchester Zoo, we can’t wait to welcome a new slithering arrival with glee!
On Friday 8th November, a special ‘green’ species joined the family from its previous home at Hertfordshire Zoo!
We’re hiss-terical to introduce our latest new arrival, green anaconda, Nino!
A member of the boa family, green anacondas are the largest snake in the world and Nino is no exception! At 10 years old, Nino is larger than our current resident male, Houdini which makes them easy to tell them apart. Green anacondas can grow to more than 8m long and weigh more than 250kg. Their huge size can make it difficult for them to move on land, however in water they can move with stealth and ease which makes them stand out as an aquatic species.
Since Nino’s arrival, he has remained in a special behind-the-scenes area where he has been carefully monitored by the Animal Care Team. After settling in well, he has since been moved to his new home at River’s Edge which he will share with male green anaconda, Houdini.
Houdini arrived from Prague Zoo in 2009 and has remain at Colchester Zoo since, becoming a firm favourite amongst many visitors.
You may spot Houdini and Nino enjoying a good squeeze! Boas are non-venomous constrictors and will kill their prey by tightly coiling their body around it to the point of suffocation. Their jaw bones are also loosely connected which allows them to open their jaws wide in order to swallow their prey!
Green anacondas are currently listed as ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species however their habitat has declined rapidly over the past few years due to deforestation.
