Snakes in Decline

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Hopefully they can understand why and reverse the trend

Steve, interesting article and as concerning as the decline in amphibians the author refers to in the same piece...

Interesting but depressing article. 90% in some cases, thats unreal. As much as I like to know what's going on in the world it saddens me, maybe it's nature, maybe it's man or just a combi of both although the Newts and Frogs was interesting too but I agree with Dr Reading statement, it seems more the co-incidence being in so many populations in different places.

Thats an interesting article, thanks for posting Steve.

What perhaps is worth remembering is that animal poplulations naturally fluctuate, sometimes widely, over time depending on food availability and other factors.....so not all these declines could be a bad thing necessarily, rather just a snippet of data that is tracking a natural process.

The fact that long term data for 8 species of snake all show declines is alarming though, especially when it includes species like Royals (could over-collection be a factor?) and Gaboon viper (could deforestation and human enroachment on habitat be a factor?). Sobering stuff, but it might not all be bad.

As so little is known about reptile diseases, especially in wild populations and viruses in particular, perhaps there could be a growing global epidemic that, like Chytrid fungus, spreads more effectively due to our warming planet.

A conundrum definitely worthy of further investigation!