The rediscovery in Barbados of the world’s smallest snake—once believed to be extinct—has been hailed as a victory for conservation, even as experts urge swift action to protect the fragile species.
Environment Minister Adrian Forde described the rediscovery of the Barbados threadsnake as a national triumph for biodiversity and proof that the country’s conservation strategy is bearing fruit.
Calling the find which has made international headlines “an amazing discovery”, Forde said it was the result of years of work by ecologists under his ministry’s Critically Endangered Species Project and aligns with the country’s global commitments to protect nature.
Two specimens of the ultra-rare reptile—small enough to coil comfortably on a $1 coin—were located earlier this year in a moist forest patch in central Barbados.
The last confirmed sighting of the species was nearly two decades ago, in 2006, and before that, it had only been observed about three or four other times in recorded history, the first in 1889.
Its survival is being touted as an indicator that the local ecosystem is healthy enough to support native species.
The environment minister told Barbados TODAY that the find is a direct result of government efforts to rehabilitate gullies and protect native ecosystems.
He noted that Barbados is among the countries committed to the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for the protection of 30 per cent of land and marine biodiversity by 2030, adding that the rediscovery reflects the island’s progress under its own biodiversity strategy and action plan which aligns with that agreement.
“This speaks to how we can preserve our biodiversity in Barbados,” he said. “[Prime Minister Mia Mottley] herself insisted that we have a gullies project to enhance our adaptation and serve as a mitigation measure for climate change. And in March, we had a sighting of the Barbados threadsnake… an amazing discovery, recognising that only four were found 117 years ago.”
Forde noted that the rediscovery is more than just symbolic, stating that it places Barbados among the few countries able to claim the return of a species once considered lost.
“It was thought to be one of the more than 4 000 lost species of animal, plant, or fungi, and we are going to do everything to ensure that we protect it,” he said.
The minister shared that the snakes were returned to their habitat to support natural breeding, noting that unlike invasive species such as the flowerpot snake, the Barbados threadsnake must reproduce through sexual pairing.
The rediscovery was made by ecologist Connor Blades, who has been leading the search for the snake for several years.
He told Barbados TODAY that two were found a month apart, and he worked with the University of the West Indies to properly identify and document the find.
“For me, it’s a pretty substantial find. We were searching for quite a while, so it was very exciting to finally come across the actual threadsnake and not the flowerpot snake, which we encounter all the time,” Blades said, adding that “the find is even more significant given the country’s loss of other native species”.
“Barbados has lost a lot of its native habitats and endemic diversity. We used to have the Barbados racer and the Barbados skink—both now gone. So it’s encouraging to see that we still have some endemics hanging on.”
The ecologist warned that while the rediscovery is cause for celebration, the threats to the species remain serious. Habitat destruction, invasive predators, and illegal dumping all pose dangers to the tiny, delicate snake.
He said: “We suspect that the major threats are habitat loss and degradation, and invasive species. We have an invasive species called Eleutherodactylus johnstonei [a type of frog], and we also know that the flowerpot snake is slightly larger and reproduces asexually, so it can outcompete the threadsnake. That puts our native species at a disadvantage.”
Blades also expressed concern about the illegal wildlife trade, saying that rare and rediscovered species can become targets for collectors.
“People think rare species are interesting and want to have one of their own. There’s a global market for exotic species, and even if the threadsnake isn’t targeted yet, it’s something we need to be cautious about,” he said.
Minister Forde echoed the warning and issued a national appeal for Barbadians to help protect the species by preserving green spaces and ending illegal dumping, which he said can destroy the ecosystem.
He views the rediscovery of the Barbados threadsnake as a stimulus for stronger community involvement in conservation.
Forde thanked the team at his ministry’s biodiversity section, saying their efforts had not gone unrewarded, and also encouraged the public to report sightings: “Please do not kill anything that looks like a little snake. Call the experts.”
(SM)
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