Is There a 30-Metre-Long Snake in the Amazon?
Videos showing a gigantic anaconda allegedly swimming in the Amazon River are circulating on social media. Some clips also depict several enormous snakes gathered in one place. In one video, the snake appears to have been filmed from a helicopter. The footage has attracted considerable attention, with some users believing it to be real.
But do the giant anacondas shown in these videos actually exist?
On 14 May 2025, Spanish fact-checking service RTVE Verifica examined a viral video claiming to show a giant anaconda in the Amazon and reported that the footage had been generated using artificial intelligence (AI).
The investigation identified unnatural features in the snake’s size and movements in the water. In some frames, the shape of the snake’s body changes, the image becomes distorted, and a second head appears to emerge. Such inconsistencies raise doubts about the authenticity of the footage.
Ecuadorian fact-checking outlet Lupa Media and Colombian fact-checking organisation ColombiaCheck also investigated videos of giant anacondas circulating in May 2025 and found that they had been generated using AI. According to Lupa Media, there is no scientific evidence confirming the existence of a 30-metre-long anaconda.
One reason these videos may appear convincing is that anacondas are genuinely among the largest snakes in the world. However, real biological facts must be distinguished from exaggerated images circulating online.
How large can anacondas actually grow?
Length: Green anacondas can reach approximately 6–9 metres, making them among the largest snake species in the world.
Weight: Large female anacondas can weigh around 250 kilograms.
Habitat: They inhabit tropical regions of South America, including the Amazon and Orinoco river basins.
Lifestyle: Anacondas spend much of their time in water or among vegetation along riverbanks.
Diet: These non-venomous snakes capture prey by constricting it with their bodies. Their diet includes fish, birds and various mammals.
These facts are documented by the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and National Geographic.
Why do several anacondas sometimes gather in one place?
Anacondas generally lead solitary lives. However, during the breeding season, several males may gather around a single female. According to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, this behaviour occurs among green anacondas, with as many as 13 males gathering around one female in some cases.
Therefore, seeing several anacondas in one location does not automatically mean that a video is fake. However, this biological behaviour does not prove that every video circulating on social media is authentic. Each video must be assessed individually by examining its source and the evidence it contains.
How can suspicious videos be checked?
When verifying suspicious footage, it is important to:
Identify the original source of the video and the date it was first published.
Look for unnatural changes in the snake’s body, head or movements between frames.
Check whether reputable news organisations or scientific institutions have reported the alleged event.
Assess the footage using independent evidence rather than relying solely on how realistic it looks.
Conclusion
Green anacondas are genuinely enormous snakes that inhabit the Amazon basin. However, fact-checking investigations have established that some viral videos circulated in 2025, depicting extraordinarily large snakes, were generated using artificial intelligence.
These clips should therefore not be treated as evidence that a new or record-breaking giant snake has appeared in the Amazon.
Verdict: FALSE. The giant anacondas depicted in the verified viral videos are not authentic evidence of the appearance of such snakes in the Amazon.