Do you know the Queimada Grande Island? Located 36 km off the coast of Itanhaém, São Paulo, Queimada Grande Island is home to a huge number of poisonous snakes. The large number of snakes in the area, which exceeds 15,000, means that the landing of visitors and fishermen is prohibited. The numerous accidents that have already occurred, combined with the difficulty of access and them scarcity of resources, have led to the existing lighthouse on the island being automated, thus eliminating the need for a person responsible for the service. Furthermore, there are no fixed forest police posts there, or even researchers.
The formation of this peculiar island is due to the thawing of the ice age, which promoted a geographical isolation of the region. This way, the animals that could not escape became trapped there and developed particularities, due to the necessary adaptation to the new environment. One of the main representatives of the island is the Bothrops insularis, the Golden Lancehead. Although it is recognized as a relative of the Bothrops jararaca, known as the wood jararaca or continental jararaca, the venom of the Ilhoa can be up to twenty times stronger, an important hunting mechanism that aggravates accidents even more. Another differentiation is that, because it feeds on birds, the Golden Lancehead is often found in the treetops. Its coloration is also a differential point between the species, since Bothrops insularis presents itself in a much less showy form, with colors ranging from ochre to light brown, allowing greater camouflage in the environment where it is found.
Despite being considered an endemic species to Queimada Grande Island, the Golden Lancehead is classified as critically endangered. Because it is an animal found specifically in this location, conservation actions and measures are of utmost importance for the species. The controlled access to the site, which mainly allows the entry of biologists from the Butantan Institute, helps not only in the maintenance and preservation of existing specimens, but also in the safety of the population in general, preventing an extremely dangerous contact.
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