15-Foot Green Anaconda Finds New Home At Milwaukee County Zoo

MILWAUKEE, WI — The Milwaukee County Zoo's newest Aquatic and Reptile Center inhabitant, a 15.2-foot green anaconda, is the longest snake that has ever lived at the zoo, according to a news release.

The massive, 120-pound snake is named Olive. She was transferred to Milwaukee from the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison in the fall and just recently completed her standard quarantine period.

Olive's journey to Milwaukee came after the Madison zoo realized their habitat wasn't offering enough space for the snakes to express natural behaviors. The realization also came as the Milwaukee zoo had to euthanize their anaconda, Moe, because of longstanding medical issues — so it made sense for Olive to transfer, according to the release.

"Zookeepers say Olive is settling in nicely," reads the release," animal care staff follow a large constrictor protocol in which three zookeepers must be present when they’re working with her in the habitat."

Anacondas, found in the Amazonian rainforest, have a varied appetite as the heaviest snakes in the world, with their diet including deer, monkeys, capybaras, fish, birds and even turtles, the zoo said.

The zoo may return one of its red-tailed boas to the habitat, but first, the animal care team will assess if Olive views potential co-inhabitants as prey.