Notes from the artist, Molly Schafer: Some of my earliest outdoor experiences involved snakes. Growing up in Pennsylvania my family had our share of ominous and amazing rattlesnake encounters. As a child, I once rescued a young ring neck snake from a spider’s web. I was truly awed at the fact that a snake could fall victim to a spider.
A few years ago, my appreciation of snakes was renewed at the Chicago Herpetological Society's Reptile Fest. As it turns out, snakes can actually be quite cuddly.
While working on my painting of the Moldavian Meadow viper I was surprised to hear so many remark on their utter dislike and disdain for snakes. (I suggest a real life encounter with a snake may sway your opinion.) While researching critically endangered snakes, I was surprised by the lack of available information. I’ll venture a guess that human’s general dislike of snakes may be to blame.
While many may find snakes unpleasant, they remain a very important part of Earth’s ecosystem and deserve our conservation efforts as much as the furred and feathered creatures we share a planet with.
More About The Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society MME BirdLife Hungary: The Life project is involved with habitat conservation, observation of Meadow vipers in the wild, and a breeding program through the Hungarian meadow viper Conservation Center.
A few years ago, my appreciation of snakes was renewed at the Chicago Herpetological Society's Reptile Fest. As it turns out, snakes can actually be quite cuddly.
While working on my painting of the Moldavian Meadow viper I was surprised to hear so many remark on their utter dislike and disdain for snakes. (I suggest a real life encounter with a snake may sway your opinion.) While researching critically endangered snakes, I was surprised by the lack of available information. I’ll venture a guess that human’s general dislike of snakes may be to blame.
While many may find snakes unpleasant, they remain a very important part of Earth’s ecosystem and deserve our conservation efforts as much as the furred and feathered creatures we share a planet with.
More About The Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society MME BirdLife Hungary: The Life project is involved with habitat conservation, observation of Meadow vipers in the wild, and a breeding program through the Hungarian meadow viper Conservation Center.
ABOUT THE MOLDAVIAN MEADOW VIPER
Native to Romania, the Moldavian Meadow viper or Vipera ursinii ssp. Moldavica is a critically endangered subspecies of Meadow viper. The Danube Delta, home to the Moldavian Meadow viper is the second largest river delta in Europe and the best preserved on the continent. In the Danube Delta there are 2 known habitats and 1 infrequent occurrence of this viper with an estimated total between 1500-2000 adult individuals. The Moldavian Meadow viper is also found around Iasi where there are 3 known habitats with an estimated total 200 adult individuals.
Like it’s relative the Hungarian Meadow viper, the Moldavian Meadow viper is threatened due to habitat degradation. Cultivation of the land for agriculture is the main cause. Plowing of fields and construction of canals has made former habitats inhospitable to the vipers.
The male vipers travel in the spring looking for mates. Fragmentation of habitat has limited the males’ travels, isolating them in local habitat. The males inability to slither off and woo females in distant populations has resulted in small and weakened gene pools, making the remaining vipers even more vulnerable.
However, there is hope for the Hungarian Meadow viper. The Hungarian Meadow Viper Conservation Center maintains a breeding program allowing isolated populations to breed with each other in a semi-natural, outdoor setting. The breeding program was started six years ago with 10 vipers. Today there are 500 vipers in the breeding program and the first reintroduction is planned for this year. The center also developed an artificial wintering burrow which they have installed in natural viper habitat.
Native to Romania, the Moldavian Meadow viper or Vipera ursinii ssp. Moldavica is a critically endangered subspecies of Meadow viper. The Danube Delta, home to the Moldavian Meadow viper is the second largest river delta in Europe and the best preserved on the continent. In the Danube Delta there are 2 known habitats and 1 infrequent occurrence of this viper with an estimated total between 1500-2000 adult individuals. The Moldavian Meadow viper is also found around Iasi where there are 3 known habitats with an estimated total 200 adult individuals.
Like it’s relative the Hungarian Meadow viper, the Moldavian Meadow viper is threatened due to habitat degradation. Cultivation of the land for agriculture is the main cause. Plowing of fields and construction of canals has made former habitats inhospitable to the vipers.
The male vipers travel in the spring looking for mates. Fragmentation of habitat has limited the males’ travels, isolating them in local habitat. The males inability to slither off and woo females in distant populations has resulted in small and weakened gene pools, making the remaining vipers even more vulnerable.
However, there is hope for the Hungarian Meadow viper. The Hungarian Meadow Viper Conservation Center maintains a breeding program allowing isolated populations to breed with each other in a semi-natural, outdoor setting. The breeding program was started six years ago with 10 vipers. Today there are 500 vipers in the breeding program and the first reintroduction is planned for this year. The center also developed an artificial wintering burrow which they have installed in natural viper habitat.
