Pictures of an anaconda being photographed underwater provoked debate and turned hit this week on Facebook, when users shared the photos and made comments doubting the authenticity of records. Biologist Daniel De Granville, author of the picture, told the G1 that captured the moment when foreign divers photographed a python about seven feet long in Formoso River, Bonito, 300 km from Campo Grande.

Granville ensures that photos are original and made in a natural environment without any digital manipulation beyond the basic settings for color, sharpness and saturation. The images were captured in August 2010 in a location away from tourist attractions of the city and that is not used for walking.

Access, according to the biologist, is restricted to researchers or film crews. Granville says that the anaconda is a shy animal and tends to stay away from places where there is constant human presence. "The possibility of finding an animal of this size in tours visited by tourists who come to the region is very remote," he says.
Regarding the process of capturing images, says biologist who was accompanied by Chinese photographers, Czechs and Swiss, and the owner of a travel agency specializing in underwater filming. "We found a place with more chances to watch it and we were there several days. They got pictures of the animal out of water, but the main goal was the underwater shots, "he says.

Also according to the biologist, the animal showed no aggression, and that there was never any accidents or danger to the team. "It's a very tolerant animal. We are more than 40 minutes photographing, following, "he said. If a tourist is faced with an anaconda, De Granville points out that the animal must be respected in their habitat. "It is vital not to block his escape route and try to annoy her by manipulating, nudges, noise," he says.