Stay vigilant: horseshoe snakes are taking Mallorca by storm!

Stay vigilant: horseshoe snakes are taking Mallorca by storm!

Concerns about horseshoe snakes are increasing in Mallorca. This reptile, which is up to 1.85 meters long and originally comes from North Africa, is spreading rapidly across the popular Balearic island. Schwäbische.de reported that the importation of the snakes by ships may have occurred in cavities of olive trees or wooden materials. It is uncertain whether the animals will also spread to other Mediterranean islands, but a gradual spread to Central Europe is not to be expected.

The first sightings in Mallorca are increasing, which is causing concern. The horseshoe snake, an invasive species, no longer has any natural enemies on the island, and that has consequences: the Mallorcan lizards, which have evolved without such predators, are now defenseless. Experts suspect that the snake population is continuously growing, which is further exacerbating the situation. “The spread can no longer be stopped,” warns watson.de.

Threat to wildlife

The horseshoe snake has emerged as a real threat to local wildlife. “It mainly eats lizards, occasionally also birds and mice,” explains Mark-Oliver Rödel, a snake researcher at the Museum of Natural History in Berlin. The alarming reports about the spread of this snake species cannot be ignored, especially since Mallorca has historically had hardly any threatening animal species. How mallorcazeitung.es notes, the snakes may have arrived in the Balearic Islands through plants from the mainland at the beginning of the 21st century.

Farmers and farmers on the island are worried about their crops and the safety of their livestock. Joan Ginard, a farmer from Sineu, criticizes the lack of resources used to combat the invasive snakes. “We urgently need support, otherwise it will become critical,” he demands. The Balearic Animal Rescue Consortium (COFIB) is overwhelmed and often hands over responsibility to private individuals.

Action against the invasion

Unfortunately, there is no glimmer of hope. The number of snakes has increased significantly and private companies charge up to 350 euros per job to kill the snakes. The agricultural association ASAJA has asked the authorities to officially classify the horseshoe snake as an invasive species in order to be able to take more measures. Because without early reactions, the situation could escalate, warn several scientists. “The disappearance of keystone species could lead to ecosystem collapse,” says biologist Samuel Pinya.

However, in the midst of all these challenges, there is a small hope: the Mallorcan lizard, the Serp de sa Garriga, is starting to eat invasive snakes. This could be a turning point in this dramatic scenario, but it is a rocky road to restoring balance to a threatened ecosystem.