Dr. Bryan Fry’s Expedition Chronicles
Meet Professor Bryan Fry, a captivating figure whose life’s work at the University of Queensland delves into the shadowy realms of venomous creatures. With a vibrant educational background, blending molecular biology with scientific philosophy, Fry’s passion illuminates the mysterious ways of nature’s most feared predators. His research, a thrilling journey across continents, from the lethargic veins of Komodo dragons to the icy waters harboring Antarctic octopuses, showcases his unparalleled commitment to exploring venom’s evolutionary marvels. An award-winning scientist and a storyteller, Fry brings the untold stories of venom into the limelight, engaging audiences worldwide through documentaries and his vibrant academic contributions.
Please join us as we delve into an enlightening conversation with Professor Fry, who recently led a team to an astounding discovery in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. Their expedition unveiled the Northern Green Anaconda, a new species that has claimed the title of the world’s largest snake, underscoring the rich biodiversity of our planet and the importance of its conservation. In an illuminating email interview by Rashmi Kumari of NSH, Professor Fry shares insights from his latest expedition, life and extensive research.
What sparked your interest in venomous animals and how did you become a leading expert in this field?
My interest in venomous animals was sparked by an intersection of formative experiences as a child. My earliest memory as a toddler is actually being in a hospital bed, writhing in agony from spinal meningitis, which left me permanently deaf in my right ear and with a shattered sense of balance. This was my first introduction to the concept of toxins. These invisible forces that have the ability to transform one’s life, and put it onto a completely different trajectory. Then I fell in love with the beautiful snakes in my mother’s photo albums, from her time living across Africa with her Norwegian parents who worked for the UN on community development. They had cobras in their garden, once had a Gaboon viper on their tennis court, and even had a black mamba come into their house. They weren’t repulsed by these creatures, but gave them the respect they deserved. Once I found out that they were also able to inject people with these same kinds of invisible substances that had left me damaged from spinal meningitis, that was it. I knew my path in life. I was only four years old when I grandly announced that I was going study venomous snakes when I grew up. And I never wavered from that commitment. I am still driven by the same curiosity for these magnificent creatures today as I was so many years ago as a child.
How did you get involved in the National Geographic documentary Pole to Pole with Will Smith and what was your role as the scientific leader?
I have led expeditions to over 40 countries, from Norway to Antarctica and all points, from the harsh deserts of Pakistan to the jungles of South America. As such I have been inducted into the elite professional field researcher society The Explorers Club and have also been made a National Geographic Explorer. I have been featured in over 150 documentaries. So when National Geographic was looking for a guide for Will Smith for the episode of Pole to Pole on the biodiversity of the Amazon, they called me and asked if I would like the role. To which I of course immediately and enthusiastically said yes. I have long been a fan of Will as an actor, but more importantly I have hugely respected his science communication documentaries. He is passionate about science and nature, and has been a real advocate of conservation through his series One Strange Rock and Welcome to Earth.
How did you discover that the green anaconda is actually two species and what are the main differences between them?
As for the anacondas, the key difference is the geographic range. The Amazon is not one structure, but actually made up by two separate basins, the large Amazon basin in the south and the much smaller Orinoco basin in the north. So the Southern Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) is found across a vast range spanning Brazil, Bolivia, Perú, and parts of French Guiana. By contrast our newly described Northern Green Anaconda (Eunectes akayima) is restricted to Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad, Venezuela, and parts of French Guiana. The Northern Green Anaconda also appears to reach larger sizes. The Ecuadorian eastern rainforest has long been rumoured to hold the largest of all anacondas but until our expedition with Will Smith for National Geographic’s Pole to Pole series, this had never been investigated. Not only because the area is so incredibly remote but also because it’s the autonomous lands of the Waorani indigenous people. My invitation by Waorani Chief Penti Baihua to enter the Baihuaeri Waorani Territory in the Ecuadorian Amazon was one of only a handful granted since the tribe’s first contact in 1958. It was a real honour.
The size of the snakes didn’t disappoint. The largest encountered on the expedition was 6.3 meters and about 360 kilograms. The largest anaconda ever authentically measured was 6.4 meters. But the Waorani regularly see snakes much larger than that. Penti’s son, Marcelo Tepeña Baihua, who along with Penti was a co-author on the study, has scars on his arm and hand from a snake that they estimate at 7.5 meters and over 500 kilograms. Considering how accurate they were at guessing the size of snakes before we measured them on the expedition, much more accurate than we were, if they say it was 7.5 meters we believe them. Plus the scars were clearly from a truly massive snake. They say that one wasn’t even the biggest they’ve ever seen, saying they’ve seen snakes they reckon were over 8 meters and 800 kilograms. So its clear that the snakes in the Waorani lands are indeed the biggest of all anacondas.
What are the implications of your discovery for the conservation of the anacondas and their habitat in the Amazon?
Yet, our work in the Amazon is far from complete. The ecological narrative of the Amazon and its inhabitants continues to unfold, particularly as they face new and insidious threats. Our future research is set to delve into the ecotoxicological impacts of petrochemical endocrine-disrupting metals such as cadmium and lead, pollutants that stealthily weave their way into the delicate fabric of this ecosystem as consequences of the frequent oil spills plaguing the Yasuni Amazon. These metals, silent and deadly, are severe disruptors of reproductive biology, an aspect we aim to study in the green anaconda and other species that call this place home. The reproductive viability of these snakes is a crucial indicator of the health of the ecosystem at large, and the presence of these toxic substances could spell disaster not only for the anacondas but for the intricate web of life that thrives in the Amazon. Our future expeditions will focus on the collection and analysis of soil, water, and biological samples, employing cutting-edge techniques to trace the pathways of these contaminants. By understanding how these metals affect the endocrine systems of the Amazon’s wildlife, we can begin to unravel the long-term consequences of exposure and devise strategies to mitigate these effects.
What are the current challenges and opportunities for venom research and how do you plan to address them in your Venomics Laboratory?
It was a wonderful expedition and great to be back in the Amazon. We were greeted by a kaleidoscope of challenges and wonders. The dense canopy above, a green sea of life; the rivers below, serpentine paths cutting through the darkness of the jungle floor. Our expedition was marked by the relentless heat, the omnipresent swarm of insects, and the symphony of the wild that crescendoed into the night. I like nothing better than being overheated, and underwashed while wading through swamps in search of giant snakes
What were the challenges you faced during the 2022 expedition to study the green anacondas in the Amazon?
During my 2022 expedition, which was a true cross-cultural endeavour, to study the green anacondas in the Amazon, I encountered numerous challenges that tested the limits of our preparation, determination, and resilience. Organizing such an expedition required meticulous logistical planning, from securing the necessary research permits to ensuring we adhered to ethical animal handling protocols under IACUC guidelines. Navigating through the dense Amazon rainforest was an adventure in itself, fraught with both expected and unforeseen obstacles.
One of the significant hurdles was obtaining the permissions needed for sampling anaconda specimens. This process involved not just local and national authorities, but also a commitment to respecting the delicate balance of the ecosystem we were there to study. Funding the expedition was another complex task, made possible through the generous support of various organizations, including National Geographic, NM Inbre, NMHU FRC, and Disney. These contributions were vital in bringing our project to life, enabling us to delve deeper into the mysteries of the Amazon and its inhabitants.
Ensuring compliance with the institutional review board protocols from both New Mexico Highlands University and the University of Queensland was paramount. These protocols are essential for maintaining the integrity of our research and ensuring that our methods and objectives align with the highest standards of scientific inquiry and ethical responsibility.
The success of our venture was not just a testament to our team’s hard work but also to the spirit of teamwork, collaboration, and the invaluable support from multiple entities. Each step of this journey was a lesson in perseverance, innovation, and the importance of fostering relationships that extend beyond the immediate scope of our research.
Why is it important that the two anaconda species split 10 million years ago?
Finding the northern green anaconda, a species genetically distinct from its southern relative by a staggering 5.5% (humans and chimpanzees differ by only 2%), has been a career-defining moment for me and a testament to the surprises that the natural world still holds. The success of this expedition and the inclusion of Waorani as equal partners really underscores the essence of what it means to be an explorer. The discovery also serves as a stark reminder of the threats faced by the Amazon, including deforestation, habitat degradation, climate change, and oils spills which place this new species and the entire ecosystem in jeopardy.
