Saint Lucia is seeking to keep residents safe from its fer-de-lance snakes while finding ways to turn its natural resources into cash.
The nation’s fer-de-lances (Bothrops caribbaeus) seem to be popping up in more places lately, including spots where they weren’t usually seen.
“In the recent past, we have been encountering the species in communities and areas we would not have seen before,” said Assistant Chief Forestry Officer Pius Haynes. “And this gave us the notion that the encounters of the fer-de-lances are increasing, so it is important that we undertake this study.”
Enter reptiles expert Lenn Isidore, who’s leading a new project to figure out where these snakes are, how to handle them and how to keep people safe.
“We want to train a few key persons in each of the at-risk communities on how to safely capture the snake, safely contain them and relocate them,” the consultant herpetologist explained, adding that such measures are vital for protecting lives and preventing dangerous encounters.
The Fer-de-Lance study is one of two consultations launched on August 5. In the second, Saint Lucia is looking at how to make money from its plants, animals and other natural resources.
This new project will explore business ideas, like beauty products, medicines, or eco-tourism, that use local biodiversity.
Activities will include conducting market assessments, analysing supply chains, developing investment-ready business cases and engaging with both private sector and community-based partners.
“We will distribute US$100,000 to five businesses in Saint Lucia that are focused on using local biological resources in producing beauty products, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals,” said Beana Joseph, the project coordinator.
By tapping into sectors such as eco-tourism, natural health products, and specialty foods, the project aims to generate economic value while ensuring equitable benefit-sharing under the Nagoya Protocol.
Love at great bit of my adult live in the North Eastern part of the island and venture most of my adult life and that started very early around 9 or 19 years going in and out of Marquis estates area and also grand anse estates and have never encountered and the fer delance although numerous times I came across the the boa or the tete chein but bam one Sunday I travel to Trinidad and Monday when I I got up the was a big ass long Green snake in the yard or where I was staying at that time and area just past San Raphael but called Brazil trinidad and for the the next six years in Trinidad snakes and iguanas was a very common thing and of I worked in the mining and quarrying industry I even came across one of the biggest snakes in Trinidad the anaconda just before you crossed that bridge going into cumoto coming of wallerfield but of course that’s the only one that got away because I grew around cacolee that between Marquis estates and grand anse estates and anything that’s not a a tete chien would be considered dead on sight
History taught us that snakes were brought into the country by slaves owners to kill slaves in my foolish opinion snakes have no business here. Slavery was abolished a long time ago. So no more slaves no more snakes.
I can understand Lenn Isidore’s affinity for snakes; however, he should come to terms with the fact that the fer-de-lance is a very deadly snake and should be destroyed at all costs. On no uncertain terms should we glorify this fatal viper.
According to official estimates, about five million people are bitten by snakes each year. About 120,000 die, and some 400,000 lose limbs to amputation. The real toll is certainly much higher. Estimates are generally based on hospital records; however, most snakebites occur in rural areas, which are often far from hospitals.
It is incumbent upon Mr. Isidore to be sincere with the St. Lucian people and tell them the truth of the fer-de-lance. I will say with all honesty that it is a snake we can do without and should be destroyed at any sighting.
but last year yall said st Lucia has less snakes now than before.
Well said Biko ….yes they can coexist with my cutlass. Mi ! I must walk in my yard today and bump into that Today and the first thing that enters my head is coexistence gasa mate crazy, sorry no can do.
Unless the snakes serve a medicinal purpose, I believe the fer de Lance should go extinct. Why keep a venomous deadly creature which can kill humans on such a small island. If it is expensive to keep, throw it away.