Nandankanan Zoo Welcomes Seven Yellow Anaconda Hatchlings

Bhubaneswar: In a significant step forward for reptile conservation, the Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) recorded the birth of seven yellow anaconda hatchlings on Sunday. This rare and successful breeding event highlights the zoo’s growing expertise in caring for and propagating exotic species.

The new arrivals were born to a pair of yellow anacondas brought to the zoo from the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust in Chennai in October 2019. This marks the second time the species has bred successfully at Nandankanan—the first instance took place in July 2022, when a total of nine hatchlings were born over two days.

With the latest births, the zoo now houses 14 yellow anacondas: two adult males, two adult females, and ten juveniles. Zoo authorities also confirmed that another female is currently gravid and expected to deliver soon, which may further boost the population.

Native to South America, yellow anacondas (Eunectes notaeus) are non-venomous constrictors known for their size and aquatic behaviour. Though smaller than their green counterparts, they are among the world’s largest snakes and play an important ecological role in their native habitats.

Zoo officials expressed pride in the achievement, noting that the successful breeding of the species under captive conditions underscores the quality of care, habitat design, and husbandry being practised at the facility. The hatchlings are currently under observation in a temperature- and humidity-controlled enclosure to ensure their healthy development.