Venomdoc Forums

[oxyuranus]

Hi all,

Came across the following very interesting paper and thought people might like to downland and read it, and then come back and debate the issues raised:


WEBB JK, BROOK BW, SHINE R. (2002) Collectors endanger Australia’s most threatened snake, the broadheaded snake Hoplocephalus bungaroides Oryx 36(2):170-181.


Abstract The collection of reptiles for the pet trade is often cited as a potential problem for threatened species, but quantitative data on the effects of this trade on wild populations are lacking. In south-eastern Australia the decline of the threatened broad-headed snake Hoplocephalus bungaroides has been blamed on habitat destruction and the collection of snakes for pets, but there was little evidence to support the latter hypothesis. During 1992–2000 we studied one of the last extant southern populations of broad-headed snakes in Morton National Park, New South Wales, where <600 individuals remain on an isolated plateau. Analysis of 9y ears of mark-recapture data reveal that the activities snake collectors seriously endanger the viability of this species. The study population of H. bungaroides was stable over 1992–1996, but declined dramatically in 1997, coincident with evidence of illegal collecting, possibly stimulated by a government amnesty that allowed pet owners to obtain permits for illegally held reptiles. Survivorship analyses revealed that 85% of adult females disappeared from the population in 1997. There was no such effect on male survivorship, suggesting that snake collectors selectively removed adult females, which are the largest snakes in the population. Humans caused significant damage to fragile rock outcrops in three of the 9 years of the study, and a second bout of habitat disturbance in 1999 coincided with a second decline in the H. bungaroides population. We recommend that locked gates be placed on fire trails to protect existing populations of broad-headed snakes.


Cheers,

David

[alley]

In relation to the Broadheaded snakes in NSW that one of the reasons of the decline is that landscapers and gardeners are going into the national parks and taking (without a permit) rocks/boulders for their own properties/ business. However I have heard that Taronga Park Zoo is doing a breeding program for these snakes and its sucessfull which is great.
thanks
_________________
Budding Herpetologist
Fangs for the memories

[Venomdoc]

I think this scenario was a tragic combination of several events
- a badly designed amnesty that did not specifically exclude a highly threatened species that lives near a very high urban concentration
- and, most disturbingly, as detailed in the study above, the publication by an amateur of the exact research site (see page 178, the last reference of the first column). This was a despicable act that reflects extraordinarily badly upon this individual in question. This caused great harm to the populations of the snakes and I feel badly also for the researchers in question.

All the best
Bryan