Globe Trekker in Venezuela


Caught a “Globe Trekker” short while waiting for “Downton Abbey, ” Ian Wright in Hato Pinero, a cattle ranch in Venezuela. I settled into my comfy chair in anticipation and focused on the tube; a group of men standing around a placid, murky pond, apparently with little current as there were patches of shrubbery here and there in the water. Then they’re taking off their shoes and wading mid-thigh into the cloudy water. Ian appeared reluctant and about this point I realized why. Ian and a biologist were hunting for an anaconda. Yes, an anaconda. There were anacondas laying at the bottom of the pond in wait for whatever it is they hunt. The men were barefooted so they could feel when they stepped on the snake.


30 foot (longer than my car) anacondas weighing up to 500 lbs. laying at the bottom of the pond in wait. And they can stay submerged for 10 minutes. I was squirming in horror by this point but also glued to my seat with really creepy fascination, thinking, “This is a film clip. They’re not gonna show an anaconda grab a person and slowly constrict the literal breath out of them. Right?”

Ian is acting squirrely. Ya think? Standing barefooted in brackish water to mid-thigh, trying to catch an enormous constrictor snake. Hmmm. At least they’re not poisonous. The biologist announces he’s located one, (Ian is not rushing over to help,) and reaches both arms into the water, and comes up with a behemoth snake middle, (just writing that sentence gives me the shudders.) The snake is not taking this development calmly, it tries to flee. Now the rest of the men jump into the water, and they all grab sections of the snake. Somebody’s got its head, (a very good idea,) and they stretch out the snake for the camera, all smiling and whooping at their success. Ian looks a little better, he’s positioned somewhere in the middle.

Then at the count of three, they heave the snake back into the water. It disappears in a flash, the vee of a current rippling the surface as it swims away.

Gotta say, Downton Abbey seemed tame by comparison.





Comments

Janice said…
I think Downton Abbey is more my speed. I love that show and can't believe the season finale is this Sunday. I feel like it just began.
Sat Feb 16, 07:30:00 AM
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