Will Smith Joins Discovery of New Anaconda Species in Amazon

In 2024, scientists declared the discovery of a new species of giant anaconda in South America, an announcement that coincided with a unique expedition featuring actor Will Smith. The journey was part of the filming for National Geographic’s upcoming documentary series, *Pole to Pole with Will Smith*, which showcases the actor’s adventures across diverse ecosystems.

During the expedition in 2022, Smith was accompanied by a team of indigenous Waorani guides and venom expert Bryan Fry. They travelled by boat along the Amazon River, meticulously searching the banks for anacondas. Their efforts were rewarded when they encountered a female green anaconda measuring approximately 16 to 17 feet long, described by Fry as “pure muscle.”

The Waorani team secured the anaconda, which, though non-venomous, can bite. Fry used Smith’s assistance to collect a scale sample from the snake, which will help analyze pollutant accumulation in the local waters. This sample, alongside others, facilitated the genetic analysis that ultimately identified the new species: the northern green anaconda (Eunectes akayama), which translates roughly to “the great snake.” This species is genetically distinct from the southern green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), with the two likely diverging around 10 million years ago. The northern green anaconda’s habitat includes regions in Venezuela, Colombia, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern parts of Brazil.

Smith’s experience in the Amazon was not limited to anacondas. The actor also confronted his fear of spiders when he came face to face with a giant tarantula during the crew’s venom extraction procedures. His adventures continued beyond the Amazon, taking him to the South Pole, where he trekked across icy landscapes, and to the Himalayas, where he visited a small village in Bhutan. He also explored the Pacific Islands to document a lost native language and joined the hunter-gatherer San people in the Kalahari Desert for a traditional hunt. Smith rounded out his journey at the North Pole, participating in an expedition to dive beneath the ice for scientific sampling.

The series *Pole to Pole with Will Smith* is set to premiere on January 13, 2026, with episodes available for streaming on Disney+ starting the following day. This collaboration between entertainment and scientific discovery highlights the importance of biodiversity and conservation efforts in some of the world’s most vital ecosystems.