The Island of the Cobras: a Paradise So Dangerous That Entry is Prohibited

The Island of Queimada Grande, better known as the Island of the Cobras, is a 430,000 square meter island located off the coast of São Paulo, Brazil. It is not known for being a great paradise of Latin America, nor for its breathtaking beaches; it is infamous for being one of the most dangerous places in the world.

Here lives the notorious snake of Queimada Island, scientifically named Bothrops Insularis, one of the most venomous snakes in the world. It is estimated that there is one of these venomous snakes for every square meter of the island.

This endangered snake is found only on this island. This is precisely why it could disappear because it is the only habitat in the world where we can find this type of venomous reptile.

What is most curious about this island is that entering it is completely prohibited for any person. However, as with everything, there are always exceptions. To enter, one must claim to be a scientist and then receive a special permit from the government to do so.

Despite the ban on entry and being an extremely dangerous place, this location was declared an Area of Relevant Ecological Interest by Brazilian authorities. It is no surprise, as despite being extraordinarily dangerous, it is a unique place in the world.

The Bothrops Insularis are brownish-yellow snakes that can grow up to 70 centimeters long and are capable of melting the skin of anyone they attack.

But if there is something curious, it's how the island has turned these snakes into a much more dangerous place than it was before. We have to go back about 11,000 years, when sea levels cut off the island's contact with the mainland.

After this event, and through evolution, these snakes became five times more venomous than their mainland relatives. These snakes hunt and eat birds, but not just any bird... they prey on large migratory birds. And this is where their evolution lies; to hunt them and survive, the venom of these snakes had to become much more potent than it was before.

Unfortunately, despite the danger posed by the species and the prohibition of entry to the island, there are still reports of expeditions from poachers who risk their lives to hunt some specimens, which can fetch up to 30,000 euros for each snake.

But what remains clear is that, despite being one of the most dangerous species in the world, and the island being a perilous place, we should never steal the habitat or life of an animal that roams freely in such a peculiar place.

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