The Milwaukee County Zoo's new 15-foot anaconda is its longest snake ever

Amy Schwabe
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Milwaukee County Zoo has introduced lots of baby animals to visitors over the past year. But the zoo's newest may not seem quite as cute to some people.

It is impressive, though.

Olive, a 15.2-foot green anaconda, is the longest snake the zoo has ever had. She arrived last fall from Henry Vilas Zoo, when the Madison zoo decided its habitat was too small for the two anacondas it housed.

Olive is completing the standard quarantine period animals go through when they arrive at the zoo. Currently, it can be seen in the aquatic and reptile center.

Olive, a 15.2 foot green anaconda, is the longest snake that has ever lived at the Milwaukee County Zoo.

The zoo is following standard protocol for a large constrictor; that means three members of the animal care team have to be on hand whenever they interact with Olive. As Olive acclimates to her new surroundings, zookeepers are also evaluating whether one of the zoo's three red-tailed boas can return to the same habitat, or whether Olive would see the snake as potential prey.

In nature, anacondas are found in Amazonian rainforests and forests in Central America. They are the heaviest snakes in the world, growing up to 500 pounds and 30 feet. They typically eat deer, monkeys, capybara, birds, fish and turtles.