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Snake Island
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by Langaha on December 5, 2002
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Just thought I'd start a topic, since there hasn't been much movement in here of late, plus I'm curious. Has anyone here ever been to or at least heard of Quemade Grande Island(pardon the spelling). It's a small island off the eastern coast of South America that has a large population of Golden Lanceheads. This is the only place on Earth with this deadly pit viper. I just have to visit there at some point in my life, even if 20 years in the future. It may be mandatory to have anti-venin with you. Scientists are just beginning to learn the biology and natural history of this awesome snake. Just wondering if anyone else is also fascinated by this region and this snake. ---Anthony
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RE: Snake Island
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by Hotherps on December 5, 2002
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I think that you will find that my fellow countryman Mark O’Shea has in fact done a programme on the Golden Lanceheads. Check out his website at www.markoshea.tv Series one, program 2, Lost Worlds.
Paul D. Rowley
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RE: Snake Island
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by Snakeskin on December 5, 2002
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Indeed the island of Quemada grande is a natural wonder by itself. However, since this is a very small island the snakes are inbreeding and producing "intersex" offspring, neither male or female.
Your plans of visiting the islang have to be in the nearer future, the snakes are on the brink of extinction
More info can be found at Mark O'Shea's place
With regards
Peter
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RE: Snake Island
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by Snakeman1982 on December 7, 2002
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Dr. Brady Barr of National Geographic and Jeff Corwin have also done programs on the island to educate people on this exciting snake the golden lancehead (Bothrops insularis). However if you want to get on the island of Queimada Grande of the coast of Sao Paulo you have to have permission so you better start becoming a researcher and friend at the Butantan Institute which only happens to be one of the oldest and most respected venom research facilities on the planet having been in the business for over 100 years. You also can't just jump on the first boat. You have to have a purpose for going to the island in order to get permission which is hard to do since the snake is already being heavily studied by Portugese speaking scientist. I would absolutely love to go to the island too and haven't given up hope. I am just pretty sure it won't be soon. Start studying your Portugese.
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RE: Snake Island
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by neuwiedi on March 18, 2004
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Well, I am starting a job as trainee in the herptology lab in Butantan institute. I have never been to queimada grande island, but Know people who have (several of the staff in butantan). First thing: it is very difficult to gain acess to the island - do not try this by your own !! - even for brazilian scientists. The main reason for this is that the ecossistem of the island is very fragile and any introduction of exotic especies could be a disaster. So the terrestrial area of the island is strict off-limits. Second thing - Where did you heard about the extincion of Bothrops insularis? As far as I know the snakes are doing fine, and interbreeding does not should be such a problem, since it was this isolation that created the species in the first place, and it has been so for thousands of years. Right now there is a strong debate about creating a national park around the island, but it has met some opposition from divers who use the surrounding waters for scuba. The land portion itself is still in good condition.
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