Yesterday, Italo Nascimento Fernandes and his wife were traveling near their home in Brazil when they spotted something unexpected.
There, on the side of the highway in front of them, was an enormous snake — an anaconda who appeared to be attempting a perilous crossing.
Fernandes knew he had to help.
“We decided to stop the car and get out,” Fernandes told The Dodo. “There are no signs for the cars to wait so she can cross. I have seen snakes run over on the highway before, and think such thing is a crime.”
So, Fernandes started signaling to oncoming vehicles to avoid hitting the giant snake — but he wasn’t alone.
“Many people quickly appeared and also helped,” he said.
“It’s not everyone who protects animals like that. Some people prefer to see them dead,” Fernandes said. “Seeing all the people help gave a wonderful sensation.”
And thanks to them, the snake made it safely to the other side.
Here’s another video of her crossing:
“She went into the woods and left,” Fernandes said. “It was beautiful.”
The group’s actions that day have earned them the gratitude of biologist Flavio Terassini. Speaking to G1 Globo, he estimates the snake to be about 10 years old — a lucky survivor in a region where highway deaths aren’t uncommon.
“People did a good job of stopping traffic in order to stop it from being run over,” he said.