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Snake Island, or known as Ilha da Queimada Grande, is an island in Atlantic Ocean, Brazil, which is inhabited by thousands of snakes. This site is located about 90 miles off the Sao Paulo coast.
Around 11,000 years ago, the Atlantic Ocean levels risen since the last ice age and disconnected the this island from the mainland. The snakes were trapped on the island and needed to adapted with the new environment.
The snakes increased rapidly and evolved over thousands of years without human intervention and became the dangerous island.
Eventually, this island is strictly closed to the public by the Brazilian government to protect human and snake life.
The access to enter Snake Island is only given to the Brazilian Navy, selected research and conservation units.
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Natural Home Sanctuary For The Snakes
The nature supports the snakes living on a 43-hectare island, with an estimated 430,000 snakes residing there.
The damp surface of the island has a rain forest 0.25 km2 and the remaining area of open grassland and barren rocks.
The climate is also similar to the neighboring island, Nimer, from average 18.38 °C and rainfall during July-December.
Due to its environment, nature, and weather, the snakes thrive in their habitat, and it is estimated that there is one snake per 10.8 square feet.
The snakes are reproduced rapidly because there’s no ground level predators. They prey on birds that live on tree branches to survive.
Filled With Endangered Species
Snake Island has populated by a deadly venomous snake species, which is between 2,000 and 4,000 golden lancehead vipers.
Bothrops insularis or better known as Golden lancehead is the deadliest species on this island. The venom 5 times more deadly than other snakes and can prey on lizards and even other snakes.
Golden lanceheads are also the cause of 90% of deaths from snake bites in Brazil. One bite can cause kidney failure, brain hemorrhage, intestinal bleeding and muscle tissue necrosis.
Besides that, the other small population of this island is Dipsas albifrons, a non-venomous snake species.
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The Rumors Behind Snake Island
Snake Island has many rumors and local tales behind, since there are no one lived there.
The first rumor came from the fisherman who came to plant bananas by burning the forest on the island, but he was found dead in his boat by snake bites.
The second rumor, there were a few people living on the island from 1909 -1920s. The story comes from the last lighthouse keeper, whose entire family died when snakes slithered into his home.
The only remain of habitants left was the automated lighthouse on Snake Island.
The third rumor came from the Pirates tale, they put the snakes on the island to protect their golds.