Zoo officials have filed a complaint with the Dehiwala Police that a yellow anaconda calf at the Dehiwala National Zoo has gone missing.
A local woman had illegally brought six snakes of three species, including the yellow anaconda, to the country from Thailand on September 12.
The snakes were later taken into the custody of the Katunayake Airport Customs and handed over to the Dehiwala National Zoo.
Accordingly, the six snakes have been sent for quarantine and will be put on public display after the relevant period, Dehiwala Zoo Deputy Director Kasun Hemantha Samarasekara said recently.
He said that the yellow anaconda is one of the heaviest snake species native to South America.
He also stated that the missing yellow anaconda was not previously present at the Dehiwala National Zoo.