Cobra Island, a forbidden paradise for humans
Play “What would you take to a desert island?” This becomes complicated when the island in question is queimada grandealso known as Cobra Island, Located at a distance of about 30 kilometers from brazilian coast (in the state of São Paulo), this island, seen from a distance, is a dream for any homeless person; But after a few minutes there, the homeless man would realize that if any kind of luck had brought him to the island, it would undoubtedly have been bad luck.
and cobra island This is one of the most dangerous places in the worldreason of high density of poisonous snakes Which stores the field. The most dangerous of all, Bothrops insularis, is the species that rules the island; It is endemic to Queimada Grande and is considered one of the deadliest snakes on Earth.
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So much so that Cobra Island This is a forbidden place for humans, Only permitted scientists and researchers are allowed entry. But… Could it be, in spite of everything, that humans are more dangerous to the island than its snakes are to us? we tell you National Geographic Spain,
This island is home to one poisonous snake per square meter
Queimada Grande is an island 23 hectares It takes its name from the bonfires that ancient fishermen lit to scare away snakes when landing on the island. And this small piece of land, It is one of the places with the highest density of poisonous snakes in the world: it is estimated that there is one in every square metre.,
Local legends say that those reptiles were freed by pirates who hid their treasure on the island and wanted to make sure that no one could ever reach it; But we know this is just a legend.
a small snake with a huge mouth
The scientific community believes that a large number of poisonous snakes originated in this area a few years ago. 11,000 years, The most accepted theory is that, Originally, Queimada Grande Island -and its sister, Queimada Grandes, of 10 hectares- It was part of the continent, but that piece of land became isolated after sea levels rose,
It is suspected that when this island was formed, its main inhabitants it was already snake And that, to lack of hunters As their populations declined, reptiles were able to spread in abundance.
However, we have already seen that they are not only many snakes, but also very poisonous. You know why?
The venom of these snakes is estimated to be five times more powerful than that of continental snakes.
It is believed that snakes became more venomous as a result of the evolutionary process.
When Queimada Grande was separated from the continent, Species living on islands evolved differently from species living on the mainland., He adapted to the circumstances of his small kingdom; And although no hunter lived there, There were also no predatory mammals to eat.Like rodents.
This was added to the large number of snakes sharing the habitat and, as a result, high competition for food among the reptiles. they had to Improvement to reach other prey, In this sense, it is believed that the potency of its venom responds to an evolutionary adaptation to be able to hunt. migratory BirdWhose size is much bigger than snakes.
Thus, although initially most birds managed to avoid attacks by these snakes, as they evolved, they became increasingly lethal to their prey: It is estimated that its venom is five times more powerful than that of continental snakes.,
Bothrops insularisOne of the deadliest snakes on the planet is perhaps the most illustrative case of this process.
It’s the only home to one of the world’s deadliest snakes
golden lancehead snake or Bothrops insularis It belongs to the Viperidae family and is a endemic species From Queimada Grande, which It does not live anywhere else but on this island,
Both its yellow color and its triangular head are characteristics of its genus (Bothrops), however, due to differences in its evolutionary process with respect to continental snakes, this species presents some peculiarities that its other relatives do not have. Are seen.
Bothrops insularis it turned into a great tree climbermaking it possible for him to access Migratory birds and their nests, Similarly, this species evolved longest tail Which, in theory, will help him maneuver during climbing.
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In parallel, these snakes acquired the ability mixture With the island’s vegetation, it enhanced daily habits and increased the power of its poison, And if that wasn’t enough, unlike other snakes, which bite their prey and then leave it to chase, this snake captures its prey in its mouth After being bitten, while waiting for the poison to take effect. For the bird, escape has never been so difficult.
Effects of its venom in humans include severe pain, nausea, vomiting, blood blisters, internal bleeding (in the intestine, brain, etc.), blood in vomit and urine, necrosis, and kidney problems. It is estimated that it is the fastest killing venomous snake of its species and that too Its lethality is about 93%,
A scary snake yet critically endangered
Because this is their only home Bothrops insularisThis species is very sensitive to environmental degradation.
In 2019, according to Brazilian government estimates, some 2,000 golden spear snakes lived in Queimada GrandeHowever, data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) overestimate this figure somewhat and believe that there are between 2,000 and 2,500 specimens. Bothrops insularis,
And while this figure may seem high for an area of only 23 hectares (it is estimated that there are about 60 to 80 snakes per hectare), it is worth remembering that it It is the only habitat of Bothrops insularis So that the following information does not surprise you so much. The species is found grave dangerAccording to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
This organization has identified essentially two threat agents to the golden lancehead population: Deforestation and poachingAnd the uniqueness of the golden lancehead snake makes it a fascinating specimen not only for biology, but also for hunters, In the past, some people would land on the island to get these reptiles and later sell them. black marketwhere profits can reach $30,000 per copy,
Who can cause more harm, snakes to humans or us to them?
Beyond the proven danger that the island poses to anyone who sets foot there, in fact, The decree that led to the ban on entry did not refer to this, but to the threat that our species poses to the conservation of the island.,
On November 5, 1985, the Brazilian Government, through the above decree, annexed the islands of Queimada Pequena and Queimada Grande. Area of Relevant Ecological Interest – ARIE To protect the environment and biological resources of these islands.
When the world’s deadliest spider gets angry, its condition becomes even worse.
so, Bothrops insularis was safe, but other residents were also safe From Cobra Island, such as insects, lizards, spiders, birds or other species of snakes.
And although this decree did not prohibit In fact human access to this area, it established that the Special Secretariat for the Environment can Take necessary measures to ensure this security And, in addition, the destruction of biota in the area will lead to a deterioration in environmental quality as permitted by law.
Every species’ extinction matters (and that includes the ones we fear)
In other articles we told you that the extinction of each species matters, because it represents a irreparable loss in biodiversity of our planet; And this statement also includes those species that scare us, and even more so if they are endemic and unique creatures like those that live on islands.
But it is not just about this. In addition, poisonous snakes have also increased in value: The potential of its poison remains hidden for medicinal research., It is often said that there is an antidote to snake venom… and it is true! To obtain sera, scientists have traditionally injected small amounts of venom into animals, which develop antibodies against it. And serum in humans is obtained from extracts of these animals.
Similarly, components in snake venom have been found to have promising analgesic, anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory effects, leading to drug development, was the first to be approved for use in humans Captopril, made from compounds in the venom of Bothrops jararacaOf the same genus as the golden spearhead.
Who knows how much we still have to learn from them?