Melaka Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary Makes History With Birth of 10 Green Anacondas

MELAKA, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The Melaka Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary has made history by becoming the first zoological conservation centre in the country to successfully breed 10 green anacondas (Eunectes murinus) entirely in captivity on Oct 5.

Its managing director, Gerard Wong, said the baby green anacondas were born healthy to a six-year-old female named Diana, further cementing the sanctuary's position as the holder of the record for the largest green anaconda population in Malaysia.

He said the successful breeding of a second generation was a significant achievement for the local zoological industry, as breeding the world's largest snake species, native to the Amazon in South America, requires considerable expertise and strict environmental controls.

“Previously, our green anaconda named Jasmine gave birth in 2020, and now the legacy continues with her offspring, Diana, which measures almost 10 feet long and weighs nearly 13 kilogrammes.

“Green anacondas reproduce differently from most snake species because they do not lay eggs outside their bodies. Instead, they are ovoviviparous, meaning the eggs develop and hatch inside the mother's body before the young are born alive,” he told a press conference on the successful breeding of the green anacondas here today.

He said Diana underwent a 190-day gestation period during which she also fasted before giving birth to all the young, which are now under close observation and cannot yet be displayed to visitors.

He said hopes of breeding green anacondas had initially rested entirely on another female named Amber, which produced an estimated 50 to 60 eggs on Aug 10, but none of the eggs was successfully fertilised.

Gerard said the breeding process involving Amber had been documented on the Melaka Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary's social media platforms, with many concerned Malaysians following the updates.

“We know many people were disappointed after waiting so long and following the progress of the green anaconda breeding efforts at the Melaka Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary, but the effort has now succeeded through Diana.

“All 10 baby green anacondas are currently in good condition, and their sexes have yet to be determined, as the priority at this stage is to ensure their health and physical stability,” he said.

He said the green anacondas were valuable assets because importing them from overseas involved considerable difficulties and very high logistical costs.

As such, he said, the successful captive breeding of the species would indirectly help ensure the continuity of green anaconda genetics in Malaysia over the next 20 to 30 years.

Gerard said the birth of the 10 green anacondas brought the total number of green and yellow anacondas kept at the sanctuary to more than 40.

“The birth of these green anacondas is not merely a breeding milestone but also highlights the importance of systematic animal care, monitoring and management.

“Every record kept throughout the gestation period provides valuable information for future education, research and breeding management,” he said.

-- BERNAMA