Leonardo DiCaprio has also left his mark on the natural world. A new snake species recently discovered in the western Himalayas now bears the actor’s name, according to an ongoing study published in the journal Nature on October 21. The species, baptized Anguiculus dicaprioi or simply “DiCaprio’s Himalayan snake,” further enriches the region’s unique biodiversity.
Scientists, analyzing the DNA of this copper-hued snake, discovered that, although it shared common characteristics with other known species, it was a completely new species. The name was chosen in honor of DiCaprio, 49, an actor, producer and environmental activist, for his constant commitment to raising public awareness about climate change and the increasing loss of biodiversity.
The snake that bears his name is about 56 centimeters long, a rather small size, with a short head, pronounced nostrils, many teeth and a well-marked domed snout. A faint gray ring encircles his neck like a collar. It was found warming itself motionless on the muddy mountain terrain, showing no signs of aggression, suggesting endurance at altitudes up to 1,860 metres.
The discovery dates back to 2020, with sightings limited so far to Nepal and the Himachal Pradesh region of India.
Leonardo di Caprio’s commitment to the environment
Leonardo DiCaprio has always had a deep passion for the environment, which began at an early age. In 1998, after a meeting with then vice-president Al Gore, he decided to take concrete action by founding the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which has supported over 200 projects for the protection of wildlife and the fight against climate change.
Over the years, DiCaprio has contributed significant donations: $3 million to the WWF for tigers in 2013, $15 million for wildlife and climate, and over $100 million in 2019 to fight giraffe and elephant poaching. He also co-founded Earth Alliance with Laurene Powell Jobs and Brian Sheth in 2020, for the protection of the environment and indigenous communities.
Most recently, he supported the conservation of Virunga Park and mountain gorillas in Congo and donated $43 million for the conservation of the Galapagos Islands. DiCaprio also starred in the film Don’t Look Up, liking it for its message on the climate crisis, and invested in sustainable companies such as the British brand Løci, known for its vegan sneakers made from recycled plastic.
With his commitment, DiCaprio constantly demonstrates how much he cares about the future of our planet.
