Caribbean Crisis: Giant Snakes Threaten Puerto Rico’s Biodiversity

[Article initialement publié en juin 2024]

These predators, in the absence of natural predators, now dominate at the top of the local food chain. They thus threaten native biodiversity by feeding on rare birds, small mammals and even domestic animals.

Impacts of these invasive species on local biodiversity

The impact of invasive snakes on local biodiversity is severe. Boas and pythons consume a wide variety of native animals, including the Puerto Rico parrot, a rare species and essential to the island's ecosystem. These predators also disturb the populations of small mammals and birds, threatening ecological balance.

The University of Puerto Rico is carrying out intensive research to understand and control the proliferation of invasive snakes. In order to determine the impact on local species, biologists have examined the diet of captured snakes.

The researchers dissected more than 2,000 snakes, discovering remains of rats, birds, and even domestic cats in their stomachs. Thus, they found that their diet includes native and domestic species, aggravating the threat to the local ecosystem.

The studies have also revealed adaptation and evolution indices to various habitats of the island, such as the possible miniaturization of Boas in Cabo Rojo, suggesting an adaptation to drier conditions.

The possible causes of the invasion of giant snakes

The invasion of snakes in Puerto Rico could be attributed to several factors. Some believe that owners of exotic animals have gotten rid of their snakes that have become too large or difficult to manage. These reptiles, escaped or released, found a new habitat conducive to their proliferation.

Another hypothesis suggests that a burglary that occurred in a zoo in the 1990s led to the escape of Boas babies. Finally, the illegal trade in exotic animals, although regulated, could also be a cause of this proliferation.

Control efforts and possible solutions

Residents, called “divelos”, actively hunt snakes, capturing them or killing them to protect their pets and their environment. For their part, the authorities are trying to intensify their efforts to eradicate invasive snakes and suppress illegal trade in exotic animals.

However, the fight against this invasion requires increased resources and coordination. Researchers and snake hunters play a crucial role. Research is crucial to developing effective management and conservation strategies, aimed at protecting Puerto Rico's unique biodiversity against this invasive threat.