That time Will Smith helped discover new species of anaconda

In a groundbreaking revelation for the scientific community, researchers in 2024 announced the identification of a new species of giant anaconda in South America. This remarkable discovery was made possible during a 2022 expedition, which was captured on film by a National Geographic crew. Notably, actor Will Smith joined the team as they documented the journey for the upcoming documentary series, 'Pole to Pole with Will Smith.' The adventure unfolds as Smith, accompanied by renowned venom expert Bryan Fry and a group of indigenous Waorani guides, navigates the Amazon River in search of these elusive snakes. Their efforts were rewarded when they encountered a female green anaconda measuring between 16 and 17 feet in length—an impressive specimen characterized as “pure muscle.” In a careful procedure, the Waorani team secured the massive snake, which, while not venomous, can deliver a painful bite. Fry, with Smith’s hesitant assistance, collected a scale sample for further examination. This crucial sample will help in assessing the levels of pollutants present in the water. Additionally, other biological samples facilitated genetic analysis, culminating in the classification of the new species: the northern green anaconda (Eunectes akayama), which translates to “the great snake.” This species is distinct from the southern green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), having diverged approximately 10 million years ago. The habitat of the northern green anaconda spans several regions, including Venezuela, Colombia, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern Brazil. Smith's escapades in the Amazon also confronted him with his fear of spiders, as he encountered a giant tarantula while scientists extracted its venom. His adventurous spirit took him beyond the Amazon, as he trekked across icy landscapes in the South Pole, journeyed to a remote village in Bhutan in the Himalayas, recorded a lost native language in the Pacific Islands, engaged in a hunt with the San people in the Kalahari Desert, and even participated in an expedition to dive beneath the Arctic ice to gather scientific samples. The highly anticipated series, 'Pole to Pole with Will Smith,' is set to debut on January 13, 2026, with streaming available on Disney+ starting the following day.