Living with an anaconda? Understanding human and snake relationships in the Amazon Várzea

Time of India

7 days ago

Source: Discover Wildlife
The cultural connection between humans and snakes or more specifically, the mythical anaconda, is profound in the Amazon. These kinds of snakes are often seen not just as animals but as powerful symbols in local mythology.
In a new study in
Frontiers in Amphibian and Reptile Science
, researchers Dr. Beatriz Cosendey and Professor Juarez Carlos Brito Pezzuti explored the interaction between local communities and species of snake in the várzea regions of the Lower Amazon River, seasonally flooded and biologically diverse areas.
Lead author Dr. Cosendey dispels the anaconda myths, facts, and shifting attitudes and describes how conservation measures must shift to account for scientific as well as native knowledge.
Humans and snakes: Understanding their Amazon connection through Ethnobiology
Dr. Cosendey's route to ethnobiology was fueled early on in her life. She was captivated by field study documentaries and wondered why knowledge was being discovered remotely from city life. Later in life as an ecologist, she became drawn to science-linked research that reunited science with society, particularly studies that recognised humans as part of ecological systems rather than separate from them.
This point of view brought her to ethnobiology, a field that unites ecology, conservation, and indigenous knowledge.
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Her goal: to make science not only of intellectual value but of social significance.
E
thnobiology is not simply the biology of plants and animals; it looks at how local communities influence the biodiversity they live among. For the riverside communities of the Amazon, it is passed down through generations, enabling people to spot changes in the environment early on and encouraging good conservation practices.
With Dr. Cosendey, the conservations are more effective when locally based communities are engaged as partners rather than as research subjects. Individuals are more committed and engaged when they consider themselves co-creators of the research.
Source: Discover Wildlife
The great snake still haunts the Amazon—but now it's over chickens, not legends
One of the most powerful local legends concerns the Great Snake—a legendary anaconda supposedly lying beneath cities and churning the Amazon waters with every twitch.
With glowing eyes and the ability to swallow cattle, even humans, this snake is both feared and admired.
While fewer large anaconda sightings are reported, the legend persists. But the demeanor of these snakes is slowly shifting from spiritual concerns to secular issues mainly in relation to livestock. Now, anacondas are more likely to be seen as not mythical but as economic threats. "Chicken is her favorite dish. If one clucks, she comes," a resident said.
This captures the degree to which the conflict has become entangled with local livelihood.
It's not just bothersome to lose pigs or chickens to anacondas – it's also expensive. "You raise the chicken – you can't just let it be eaten for free," another resident continued. Others explained they had to rebuild coops multiple times or kill snakes to retrieve partially swallowed birds. This tension between living and surviving shows how practical circumstances are overshadowing traditional respect for anacondas.
Source: Discover Wildlife
Communities and researchers find real solutions through shared experience
Research did not just stop with documenting stories. Researchers worked with residents to chart successful approaches to safeguarding livestock. They observed wire and nylon mesh coops—some of which worked, others that didn't. They eventually settled on a solution based on this local experience: two sheets of thin nylon mesh at the interior and exterior surfaces of wire mesh for excluding both small and large animals.
This collaborative effort exemplifies the power of community-based conservation where experience feeds science and attention to real-world problems.
Misconceptions regarding Ethnobiology
Even though it is an established science, ethnobiology is still not trusted within some academic settings. Critics think that it cannot maintain the rigorous data collection of "hard sciences." Dr. Cosendey clarifies, though, that ethnobiology employs tried scientific procedures and generates robust outcomes—especially in complex ecological and social contexts.
Notably, ethnobiology retains subtle aspects that may be lost in traditional ecological models and is, therefore, a critical instrument in inclusive and adaptive conservation.
Building conservation through shared wisdom between snakes and humans
Dr. Cosendey feels that the future of conservation rests with community engagement. She supports projects that engage local people not as passive recipients but as active participants. Their indigenous knowledge may be used to guide environmental planning and prove particularly valuable in regions susceptible to biodiversity decline.
She also emphasises the necessity of documenting and valuing cultural traditions—such as the use of natural remedies—wherein there could be sustainable solutions that can be shared with other parts of the world.
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