The eastern Nile viper became extinct more than 70 years ago in the wild
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An eastern indigo snake has been spotted in Alabama for the second time in more than 60 years. This species is one of the largest native snakes in the United States and has been extinct since 1950. The snake found represents the success of a breeding program implemented in the US state.
The Resubmission Project is a joint effort of Auburn University, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the US Forest Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and other partners.
“The python that was found indicates that the project led to the flourishing and breeding of some indigo, just what we wanted!” to commemorate the Alabama Department of Freshwater Fish and Wildlife.
Reintroduction began in 2006, by a team of conservationists, who began breeding snakes in captivity. Snakes bred in Georgia, USA have been caught. In 2010, the first captive population reptile was released into the Conecuh National Forest in southern Alabama.
The success of reintroduction was confirmed, as the discovery of wild-born snakes meant that snakes released from captivity had survived and reproduced.
“It’s an excellent indication that the snakes we release, which were bred in captivity, were able to adapt to the wild, act like wild snakes and reproduce,” explained Jim Goodwin, an animal biologist with the Alabama Natural Heritage Program, run by the Auburn University Museum of Natural History.
* CNN Brazil information
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