• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Snake Island where no human is allowed to visit is home to species much more lethal than average snake

Home> News> Animals

Published 14:58 18 Dec 2024 GMT

Snake Island where no human is allowed to visit is home to species much more lethal than average snake

Off the coast of Brazil is Ilha de Queimada Grande, better known as 'Snake Island'

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

Given how dark and miserable it is outside, the idea of visiting a scenic island off the coast of Brazil seems pretty good right now.

But if you plan on nipping away for some sunshine in the New Year, I'd probably avoid Ilha de Queimada Grande, better known as 'Snake Island'.

It's considered to be one of the most dangerous acreages on the planet and humans aren't actually allowed to visit without proper clearance.

Just 106-acres in size, Queimada Grande is home to an estimated 4,000 snakes, including the deadliest species around.

Advert

And despite what you might think if you go into the island's Street View on Google Maps, you won't see a massive snake in the middle of the road.

However, this particular type of snake is a venomous pit viper - and is exclusive to Snake Island.

No one actually lives on Snake Island (60 Minutes)
No one actually lives on Snake Island (60 Minutes)

The golden lancehead's (also known as the Bothrops insularis) venom alone is truly deadly and it helps them feed primarily on birds, lizards and other small animals.

A fully grown snake typically ranges from 70 to 118 cm (28 to 46 inches) in length, with their pale yellow bodies often being marked with brown, leaf-shaped patterns, according to JungleDragon.com.

Advert

However, the species is listed as critically endangered.

Tara Brown of 60 Minutes Australia, who visited the island in 2019, said: "The golden lanceheads do not exist anywhere else but on Queimada Grande.

"Their isolation has given them some evolutionary quirks. They're five times more poisonous than their mainland cousins and they hunt and eat birds.

"They may be some of the most venomous creatures on the planet but the real threat is to them, not us.

"As idyllic as Snake Island might seem for snakes, its isolation is no guarantee protection for its unique inhabitants.

Advert

You don't want to cross one of these (Getty Stock Images)
You don't want to cross one of these (Getty Stock Images)

"Land clearing on the mainland is reducing the number of birds that used to stop here on their migration path. Fewer birds means less food and less food ultimately means less snakes."

But if you were to encounter a snake in the woods, an expert has said they are realistically unlikely to harm you - but only under one condition.

Whit Gibbons, a renowned herpetologist who has been studying snakes for over 60 years, told UGA Today: "When you walk through the woods, many more snakes see you than how many times you see them.

"They don’t want to be seen. We have done various studies that showed you can walk past a coiled-up rattlesnake, and it won’t move at all.

Advert

"It’s like picking a fight they don’t want to pick. Snakes care nothing about us unless we become a threat."

That's great Whit, but I will not be taking any chances.

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/60 Minutes/Australia 9 News

Topics: Animals, Travel

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

X

@Anish_Vij

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Why no human is allowed to visit Snake Island home to 4,000 of world’s deadliest snakes
  • How Snake Island where no human is allowed to visit became infested with 4,000 of world’s deadliest snakes
  • Man snuck onto Snake Island where no human is allowed to visit and is home to 4,000 of world’s deadliest snakes
  • MrBeast stayed overnight on 'deadliest island in the world' where 'no human is allowed to visit'

Choose your content:

5 hours ago
6 hours ago
  • 5 hours ago

    How man declared 'legally dead' walked into a courtroom to apply for a driving license

    And the astonishing part is, the judge said he was still legally dead

    News
  • 6 hours ago

    Doctor issues warning about major mistake millions make while driving that is ‘slowing your brain down’

    Most cars have this button on the dashboard - but be mindful of how long you're using it for

    News
  • 6 hours ago

    Expert reveals disturbing reason why you should never tell your dark secrets to ChatGPT

    Perhaps a set of code using data it's mined from the internet archive isn't your BFF?

    News
  • 6 hours ago

    The dark happenings behind the scenes of ChatGPT that many people don't know about

    In 2023, OpenAI was subjected to controversy following a TIME magazine investigation into ChatGPT

    News