Ilha da Queimada Grande is a small island off the coast of Brazil which is famous for being infested with thousands of deadly snakes, hence the name “Snake Island”.
Despite being just 106 acres in size, the island is the singular home of Bothrops insularis, or the Golden Lancehead Pit Viper. The critically endangered species was trapped there around 11,000 years ago due to rising sea levels at the end of the last ice age. Older estimates of the snake population were closer to half a million, before people realised the island is far too small to allow for such an insane number of snakes.
Whilst there has never been a recorded case of the Golden Lancehead biting a human, you for sure wouldn’t want to be. Their venom is incredibly dangerous due to the nature of their prey on their isolated island, which consists mostly of cold-blooded animals and birds. The effects can include blood blisters, intestinal bleeding, kidney failure, brain haemorrhage, and severe necrosis.
Brazil has closed the island to the public for the protection of both people and the snakes, and forbids anyone to visit the island without a special permit. Sadly poachers do travel there as the snakes are highly valuable on the black market; and in more recent years, dickhead YouTubers desperate for clicks have also visited illegally.
The island is also home to the non-venomous snake Sauvage’s snail-eater, but we’re not going to give them any thought.
Now I know many people are averse to snakes and dislike being confronted with photographs of them, so instead here is an artistic impression of the inhabitants of Snake Island:
There is also a Snake Island in the Black Sea which belongs to Ukraine, but I don’t believe there are any snakes living there.
Have at the very least an adequate day everyone, and take care of yourselves.