October 2012. A group of Round Island boas are being reintroduced to one of their original habitats on another Mauritian island for the first time since the 1860s.
This historical step in a long-standing programme by Durrell and its partners to protect the threatened species from extinction will see up to 60 of the snakes released on an island, which is a closed nature reserve and one on which a huge amount of work has been carried out to restore the natural ecosystem.
Establishing a second population
It is the first time that snakes have been relocated for conservation purposes within the region and once established, the second population should give the Round Island boa - which for over 150 years has been restricted to the Island it is named after - a much better long-term chance of survival.
It is the first time that snakes have been relocated for conservation purposes within the region and once established, the second population should give the Round Island boa - which for over 150 years has been restricted to the Island it is named after - a much better long-term chance of survival.
Just 1000 left in the wild
The wild boas, which number about 1,000 in total, are currently being collected by hand by a specialist team of conservationists. Once the snakes have undergone a health check, their release onto their new island home is due to take place between 15th October and 1st November 2012.
The wild boas, which number about 1,000 in total, are currently being collected by hand by a specialist team of conservationists. Once the snakes have undergone a health check, their release onto their new island home is due to take place between 15th October and 1st November 2012.
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