By Gemma Handy
Numbers of one of the country’s most iconic endemic species have plummeted by two-thirds over the last few years, a recent census has revealed.
The Antiguan racer snake – which exists on just a handful of the offshore islands – has been the subject of intense conservation efforts for three decades. Invasive rats and mongooses brought to the country by colonists centuries ago saw the harmless reptiles eradicated from the mainland by the 1950s.
Once dubbed the world’s rarest snake with just 50 of them left when work began in 1995, local environmentalists battled to bring the creatures back from the brink of extinction.
But climate change along with encroachment on the critically endangered species’ habitat have once again triggered a sharp decline in their population.
The Environmental Awareness Group’s (EAG) Sherrel Charles told Observer that numbers recorded during last year’s three-month census indicated a major drop on the previous census in 2016.
“We are still doing our calculations but the racers have decreased. The numbers we last had showed 1,200 individuals and we are now down to 400 we think,” Charles, a science communications officer with the non-profit group, explained.
“The decline is due to climate change – increasing temperatures and a lack of stable water source – along with development on the offshore islands which means their habitat is being affected.”
These days, the Antiguan racer’s terrain is limited to just a few uninhabited places including Great Bird Island, Green Island and York Island.
The country’s offshore islands have seen extensive rat eradication programmes over the years to protect the unique species that call them home.
The opening of a restaurant last year on Green Island, which has the highest population of racer snakes, has heightened fears of an inadvertent reintroduction of the vermin.
Charles said it was imperative to adhere to strict regulations when developing or visiting the tiny offshore isles.
That means regularly scrutinising the EAG’s rat bait stations for possible bite marks, looking out for rat droppings and also carrying out thorough biosecurity checks before getting off the boat, such as cleaning one’s shoes of dirt and seeds and ensuring vessels are free of both critters and their droppings.
“We haven’t seen any rats back on Green Island yet and we are hoping it remains that way,” Charles said.
A thorough check is set to be carried out later this year, according to the EAG’s Executive Director Arica Hill.
“The check has to be done at least one year following the eradication. So hopefully we’ll be able to do that this summer, which would be two years,” she explained. “We are really hoping that we won’t see any evidence of them.”
She said the census had provided the group with a “clear picture” of the racer’s current status.
“However, even more importantly, we were able to complete a conservation action plan which has identified some of the ways that we can improve the numbers of this snake that can only be found on our offshore islands,” Hill continued.
“In the coming months we will be engaging with a range of stakeholders, including the government of Antigua and Barbuda, island owners, and communities to begin a phased approach towards saving our racer.
“We hope that every Antiguan and Barbudan will support us in this effort.”
Charles explained what makes the Antigua racer worthy of saving.
“We travel to other places and marvel at the wildlife they have. Why can’t we have that same feeling for our own?” she said.
“The Antiguan racer only belongs to us and we should be proud that we have species like that here and all do our part to protect them.”
She added, “We are doing it for future generations too, so that those who come after us can also learn about and experience them.”