NO HUMANS ALLOWED: Snake Island, Brazil- Snakes-Amundo
The Ilha da Queimada Grande is situated off the Brazilian coast. It’s better known all around the world as Snake Island, on account of its numerous reptilian residents.
The population of golden lance head pit vipers was trapped here when the sea levels rose way back when, cutting off access to and from the mainland. In their unique environment, the snakes developed differently to their closest relatives in the region (golden lance heads are critically endangered and only found here), granting them a particularly potent venom and arboreal nature to aid in their hunting birds, their only real source of prey.
The fearsome nature of these creatures, and the sheer amount of them (there’s estimated to be one snake per square on the island, according to All That’s Interesting) means that there are no human residents and visitors are banned.
Other than strictly-vetted researchers, who visit on occasion to confirm that, yes, there are still a whole darn lot of snakes right here. Oh, and the Brazilian Navy.
|
|
|
|