Escuche esta historia
--:--
2:38
Rare species of snake found in Alabama
The eastern indigo snake has only been seen twice on Alabama soil and after sixty years it has been found again.
The Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries commented on their social networks that last Wednesday they observed this species born in the wild for the second time.
This fact represents a great achievement to be able to reintroduce these reptiles to the soil of Alabama. The Wildlife Division posted on facebook that:
“Reintroducing a species to its native range is a daunting task, and we celebrate every step of its success! The snake found yesterday indicates that the project is resulting in some thriving and reproducing Indigos, just what we wanted!”
More about the reptile
The eastern indigo was the largest snake in the United States, it was found throughout the territory of Alabama until it became extinct in 1950, this was due, according to experts, to the lack of habitat conditions that the territory had in that so.
Jim Godwin, an animal biologist with the Alabama Natural Heritage Program run by the Auburn University Museum of Natural History, commented that this snake, specifically, was a skilled predator, so its absence was going to influence all wildlife. having a domino effect on the ecosystem.
Thus, in 2006, a group of experts began the process of reintroducing the species by capturing some that were found in Georgia, where the indigo also has a habitat. Thus, when they were placed in the Alabama field, it was hoped that they could reproduce.
In 2010, the first snakes from the captive population were released into the Conecuh National Forest. Little by little, it is hoped that 300 snakes will be put there in order to create an abundant and healthy population that will develop in Alabama.
This discovery represents an achievement for this species, since those released in 2010 survived, adapted and had offspring.
“It is an excellent indicator that the snakes that we have released, that were born in captivity, have been able to adapt to the wild, function as wild snakes and are reproducing,” Godwin said.
The seen snake was born in the wild, as it has no label. Those that were released in the park had an identifier, in addition, according to Godwin, its small size reveals that, indeed, it is born in the fields of Alabama.
“The calf was clearly smaller than those released from captivity, which were typically at least two feet (60 centimeters) long; the snakes can grow up to eight feet (2.4 meters) long as adults. And the released snakes are tagged with PIT tags, which have tiny microchips that allow researchers to identify each animal by its unique code."
The first one found was in 2020, Godwin clarifies that both were a coincidental event, since it is very difficult to go out looking for these species due to their type of movement.
