Just 33 kilometres off the coast of São Paulo, Brazil, lies a place few dare to approach, Ilha da Queimada Grande, better known as Snake Island. Its nickname isn’t just folklore. The island is home to an estimated 2,000–4,000 golden lancehead vipers ( Bothrops insularis), one of the most venomous snakes in the world.
So dangerous is this rocky, forest-covered island that Brazil has banned all public access. Even the Navy only visits once a year, and always with a doctor and antivenom in tow.
Where Is Snake Island and Why Are There So Many Snakes?
Snake Island is located in the Atlantic Ocean, around 90 km southwest of São Paulo city. Over 11,000 years ago, rising sea levels cut off the hill from mainland Brazil. With no predators and little mammal prey, the isolated population of snakes evolved to hunt birds, especially migratory species.
To catch their fast-moving prey mid-flight, the golden lancehead evolved venom up to five times more potent than its mainland relatives. A single bite can cause kidney failure, internal bleeding, and tissue necrosis.
Meet the Golden Lancehead Viper
Why Humans Are Banned from Visiting Snake Island
Several reasons justify the strict ban:
1. Human Safety
The island’s steep cliffs and dense forest, combined with one snake per square metre in some areas, make rescue almost impossible in emergencies.
2. Conservation
In the past, wildlife smugglers offered up to Rs 25 lakh ($30,000) per golden lancehead for the exotic pet trade. Poaching has since threatened the snake’s survival.
3. Scientific Access Only
Only approved herpetologists with federal permits and a medical escort are allowed. They must carry satellite phones and enough antivenom for the entire team.
Snake Island Myths and the Real Threats
Tales abound of pirates planting snakes to guard treasure, or a lighthouse keeper’s family dying mysteriously. But science offers a simpler explanation: isolation, evolution, and bird-based hunting.
What’s more disturbing are the real threats the golden lancehead faces:
No. The Brazilian government has made it illegal for civilians to land on the island. Only approved scientific teams are allowed to enter, and even they face rigorous health and safety checks.
What’s the Bigger Story Behind Snake Island?
Though the island's nickname fuels countless horror stories, its real tale is one of survival. The golden lancehead is critically endangered. While it may seem like a deadly predator, it’s the one now fighting to stay alive—battling climate change, habitat loss, and human greed.
Ironically, its venom holds potential for treating high blood pressure and other disorders. So, while humans can't visit, saving Snake Island could help save lives.
Snake Island FAQs
Q1: How many snakes live on Snake Island?
Approximately 2,000–4,000 golden lancehead vipers.
Q2: Why is the golden lancehead so venomous?
To quickly kill birds before they fly away with the snake’s only meal.
Q3: Can you legally visit with a private boat?
No. Only scientists with federal permits and medical support may land.
Q4: Does anyone live on the island?
No. The lighthouse was automated in the 1920s, and no humans live there.
Q5: Is the golden lancehead endangered?
Yes. It’s listed as Critically Endangered due to poaching and inbreeding.
Snake Island may sound like something out of a thriller movie, but it’s a very real place with very real stakes. The golden lancehead’s home is dangerous to humans, but humans have proven far more dangerous to the snake. Protecting this isolated island is no longer just about avoiding a deadly bite, it's about saving a species on the edge.
Inputs from TOI
So dangerous is this rocky, forest-covered island that Brazil has banned all public access. Even the Navy only visits once a year, and always with a doctor and antivenom in tow.
Where Is Snake Island and Why Are There So Many Snakes?
Snake Island is located in the Atlantic Ocean, around 90 km southwest of São Paulo city. Over 11,000 years ago, rising sea levels cut off the hill from mainland Brazil. With no predators and little mammal prey, the isolated population of snakes evolved to hunt birds, especially migratory species.
To catch their fast-moving prey mid-flight, the golden lancehead evolved venom up to five times more potent than its mainland relatives. A single bite can cause kidney failure, internal bleeding, and tissue necrosis.
Meet the Golden Lancehead Viper
- Scientific Name- Bothrops insularis
- Average Length- 70–90 cm
- Venom Strength- ~5x stronger than mainland Bothrops jararaca
- Main Prey- Migratory birds like the Chilean elaenia
- IUCN Status- Critically Endangered
Why Humans Are Banned from Visiting Snake Island
Several reasons justify the strict ban:
1. Human Safety
The island’s steep cliffs and dense forest, combined with one snake per square metre in some areas, make rescue almost impossible in emergencies.
2. Conservation
In the past, wildlife smugglers offered up to Rs 25 lakh ($30,000) per golden lancehead for the exotic pet trade. Poaching has since threatened the snake’s survival.
3. Scientific Access Only
Only approved herpetologists with federal permits and a medical escort are allowed. They must carry satellite phones and enough antivenom for the entire team.
Snake Island Myths and the Real Threats
Tales abound of pirates planting snakes to guard treasure, or a lighthouse keeper’s family dying mysteriously. But science offers a simpler explanation: isolation, evolution, and bird-based hunting.
What’s more disturbing are the real threats the golden lancehead faces:
- Illegal poaching, which damages genetic diversity
- Shrinking bird populations due to deforestation on the mainland
- Inbreeding, leading to deformities and lower fertility
- Some researchers warn that removing just 25–40 snakes per year could drive the species to extinction.
No. The Brazilian government has made it illegal for civilians to land on the island. Only approved scientific teams are allowed to enter, and even they face rigorous health and safety checks.
What’s the Bigger Story Behind Snake Island?
Though the island's nickname fuels countless horror stories, its real tale is one of survival. The golden lancehead is critically endangered. While it may seem like a deadly predator, it’s the one now fighting to stay alive—battling climate change, habitat loss, and human greed.
Ironically, its venom holds potential for treating high blood pressure and other disorders. So, while humans can't visit, saving Snake Island could help save lives.
Snake Island FAQs
Q1: How many snakes live on Snake Island?
Approximately 2,000–4,000 golden lancehead vipers.
Q2: Why is the golden lancehead so venomous?
To quickly kill birds before they fly away with the snake’s only meal.
Q3: Can you legally visit with a private boat?
No. Only scientists with federal permits and medical support may land.
Q4: Does anyone live on the island?
No. The lighthouse was automated in the 1920s, and no humans live there.
Q5: Is the golden lancehead endangered?
Yes. It’s listed as Critically Endangered due to poaching and inbreeding.
Snake Island may sound like something out of a thriller movie, but it’s a very real place with very real stakes. The golden lancehead’s home is dangerous to humans, but humans have proven far more dangerous to the snake. Protecting this isolated island is no longer just about avoiding a deadly bite, it's about saving a species on the edge.
Inputs from TOI
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