The time to save a species is when it is still common.

~R. Edge, in Meyers et al., 1987

West Indian Boas in Zoos – Historical Perspective

West Indian Boas don’t have a unidirectional history in zoo collections worldwide.  Much like in the private sector, some species were kept on occasion while the majority of zoos focused on other species.  The reasons for this negligence are diverse.  Some lay in the preference of the management, the availability of species, the scientific conceptualization of the exhibition, the general requirements of the snakes displayed and last but not least on the (presumed) preferences of the general visitor.

A preliminary study found that average zoo visitors based their preferences on characteristics such as body length and other factors,  whereas conservation status, present range size and commercial price had no affect on the selection of species maintained by zoos..

The USFWS uses criteria explicitly laid out by Congress when determining preservation funding efforts. The FWS apparently also uses other characteristics that heavily influence its conservation policies, such as an animal’s size and its similarity to humans or its “higher” form of life .  Size is not one of the FWS criterion and the “higher” form of life criteria was removed by Congress in 1988 .  The Fish and Wildlife Service does not use the Priority Ranking System as a basis for funding decisions though they do use two of the criterion, recovery potential and conflict .  Metrick & Weitzman (1998) found “a 10% increase in body size correlated to an 8.6% raise in funding” .

An animal’s external characteristics could very well determine its salvation.  Why is that?  Public opinion, in the end, is no different than the opinion of those that determine and set policy.  As a result, zoos have the option of saving species or sacrificing them.  It is navigating this slippery slope that has all of us concerned.

Data collected from 1988 through 2006 showed the resulting ranks varied considerably among tested species.  The most preferred species were Epicrates c. cenchria, Python regius, Python molurus bivittatus, Python  brongesmai, and Corallus caninus, while the least preferred were E. gracilis, Epicrates inornatus, Liasis olivaceus, Eryx johnii and C. annulatus .

Oddly enough, during the study period, the numbers of boas and pythons rapidly increased while the number of species showed a minor increase, as well as a mild decrease in species equitability.  In 1988 there were 43 species and 1,313 specimens in the zoos analyzed; by 2006 this number increased to 54 species with 7,070 specimens .

When the boas from the West Indies were ranked in popularity or preference the results were not surprising.  C. gracilis had a mean ranking of 26.3 (last), C. inornatus 26.2, C. striatus 22.5, C. ruschenbergerii 22.2, C. angulifer 15.5 (Size), C. subflavus 14.4 (SSP requirement), C. fordii 14.3, Boa. c. constrictor 10.5.  Finally, Python regius at 6.9 and E.c. cenchria at 5.8 (first) top the list.  It should be noted this data is from Zoos world-wide  .

Fast forward to 2021 and the numbers of West Indian Boas significantly drops.  As best as we can determine there are three (3) Chilabothrus angulifer, fifty-two (52) C. subflavus, twenty-eight (28) C. granti and six (6) C. striatus.  Two of these species, C. subflavus and C.  granti, are CITES I – App I; each belongs to a Species Survival Plan (SSP).  Selective preference will ultimately determine the fate of the remaining West Indian Boas, if habitat destruction does not.

We think these boas deserve a better placement in public institutions and would like to encourage zoos to devote some part of their collection space and time to these interesting and display worthy boas.

Can the Zoos alone save the West Indian Boas?

The majority of zoos do a great job in wildlife education, research, ex-situ and in-situ conservation and awareness creation. We are convinced that zoos must play a crucial role in the conservation of West Indian boas. The major advantage of a zoo over a private keeper for conservation is the degree of awareness creation in the general public. Zoos can reach many people with their information campaigns and this is the first and most important step.

However, we assume it will be difficult for zoos alone to save the West Indian Boas, if they want to continue with their research and conservation projects on other endangered species as well.  Zoos have species that must be worked with such as C. subflavus, granti and monensis.  Any other species is likely a result of the favorable bias of Zoo management such as a Director or Curator.  When these individuals change, oftentimes the direction of the Zoo’s collection changes as well. We therefore favor an approach where dedicated citizens play a pivotal role in the preservation and conservation of these species. This Invisible Ark can be used to augment these species or those species not represented in public Institutions.

The partnership between private keepers and Zoos is necessary as it increases or shares the available resources, time, space, manpower and data generation and -sharing as well as genetic inventory.  West Indian Boas can be kept by private individuals without great challenges.  Thus, the captive population can expand beyond the limited resources of the public sector, sharing captive bred animals and contributing a broad genetic basis for future generations.

Partnerships between private and public are already in place to save several species of amphibians which, much like the West Indian boas, can be kept by private individuals without problems. To learn more about this approach, click here.

It is thus upon us to forge this ex-situ conservation partnership while we still have time to save the West Indian boas.

To say it in the words of citizen conservation:

Welcome to the Anthropocene. If we want to have a fighting chance to slow the current wave of extinctions, we need all the help we can get.

Outlook and statement of cooperation

We are willing to cooperate on a non-profit basis with zoos in the conservation of West Indian boa species, by placement, knowledge exchange and cooperation measures. We encourage any zoo, NGO, conservation organization or academic institution with interest in West Indian boas to contact us. We are also interested in cooperation with private West Indian boa aficionados, since the Invisible Ark is likely to grow in headcount and we need all resources possible to maintain a stable ex-situ population of these fascinating boas, to secure their survival.

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