So be guided accordingly before making those asinine statements. We were collecting DNA samples and venom for research on these animals. © Copyright 2014 - 2020 - St. Lucia Times. Bothrops asper (common names Terciopelo [English], Cuatro Narices [Spanish], and often called the fer-de-lance among many other colloquial names, but see discussion under common names below) is a highly venomous pit viper species, ranging in distribution from southern Mexico to northern South America.It is found in a wide range of lowland habitats, often near human habitations. In the meantime OUR people are being hurt and farmers are suffering. There you have it – a whole lot of safety tips for travelling around Saint Lucia to bear in mind when you touch down on the Caribbean island. Every statement in this article is completely untrue. Any one. One such measure was the importation of another pest— the mongoose. This is the most poisonous or venomous snake on St Lucia. A Fer-De-Lance was caught on the edge of a forest in Fond St. Jacques. The Fer-de-lance ( Bothrops Caribbaeus ) is rarely seen around built up St Lucia, unless travelling through the dense forests.Although their close proximity to human habits is the cause of many snakebites. Ironic. The Boa is restricted to the drier areas of St. Lucia. Whether the snake is endemic or not,THE WRITERS CONCERNS SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED………………………. An inmate at a prison facility in St Lucia was bitten by a snake on Thursday (December 10). The snake was not brought by the white slave owners it was already here and Columbus did not discover St.Lucia either just in case you believed that lie also when he met our ancestors here already. This article contains mainly fables passed down to our generation, which are not historically factual. SLNT, Forestry Division focus on human safety in Fer-de-Lance management. The myth that the snake was introduced to stop slaves running away is just that – a myth. As a result, the snake population started to grow once more. "Boa Constrictor (Constrictor constrictor orophias ): The Boa Constrictor of tete-chien as it is known locally is one of the four species of snakes native to the island of St. Lucia. They have to be in a confined area, like a cage, mainly created by man for his sick entertainment. 5. that’s an outrageous lie because Steve Irwin took this exact species out of Africa to introduce to Australia.this snake was taken out of Africa and introduced to the Islands.and you talk about deviations in the species and that comes from cross breeding the myth you talk about can substantiated by the history books written by those who did it or maybe you’ve never heard of a history book just saying. ….remember the Amerindians used the snake as a weapon by placing it in a bamboo,spinning it around and directing it at the target before opening one end. "Boa Constrictor (Constrictor constrictor orophias ): The Boa Constrictor of tete-chien as it is known locally is one of the four species of snakes native to the island of St. Lucia. There are snakes in Saint Lucia – one venomous one in particular: the Fer de Lance (brown, black and pale yellow bands with a big head). NWU CALLS OUT G4S ON ALLEGED LABOR CODE BREACHES. Well there has been preliminary research showing that the venom of the fer de lance is effective in treating hypertension, congestive heart disease, blood clots and certain types of cancers. There is no political will whether green, yellow or red to enact any meaningful change here. That worked for a while till the mongoose discovered something a lot The greatest MYTH: The mongoose and the snake are deadly enemies and will engage in mortal combat on sight. OKEU Hospital Responds Amid Claims of Negligence in Woman's Death. Saint Lucia Viper, Saint Lucia Fer de Lance (Bothrops caribbaeus) and Serpent are all names given to the only poisonous snake on island. It is worth noting that while there are many snakes both endemic and introduced to St. Lucia, the only one that poses a real danger is humans is the St. Lucia Viper, or Fer-de-Lance, which is only found in very sparsely populated dry areas along the coasts and … The only location outside of St. Lucia where these snakes are allowed to be kept is the Kentucky Reptile Zoo. Georgina Kenyon, a freelance journalist, spoke to Adams Toussaint, an employee of the island’s Forestry Department, about the need to act to preserve the snake. The east coast is home to leatherbacks, or giant sea turtles, and the fer-de-lance, a snake whose bite can sometimes be fatal. fact is the snake is part of nature just like you and me, and every other creature on earth. we dont need to add “assassins of nature” to the mix and let them run amok on a thread like this available to thousands of readers. the white man mentality is how it got introduced to the region in the first place.and secondly any species that is introduced to a region where it was not meant to be wreaks havoc on the eco system and the indigenous species so before you open your horrid trap do some research and educate yourself. In addition to the fer de lance and the boa, Saint Lucia is also home to the very rare Saint Lucia racer which is found only on Maria Island and the worm snake, which is about three to four inches in length, Prospere said. PRESS RELEASE: SLNT uses multi-pronged approach to Fer-de-Lance Management On November 3 rd, the Forestry Division, a major partner of the project “Conservation and Management of the Endemic Fer-de-Lance on the small island developing state of Saint Lucia” will be the recipient of a supply of protective gear and equipment under the project. The Legacy Report. 3: Bothrops lanceolatus; A venomous pit viper species generally considered endemic to the island of Martinique 4: The St. Lucia lancehead. St Lucia Island Venomous Pit Viper Fer-De-Lance Bothrops Asper Antivenom. (CMR) A St Lucian prison inmate was taken to hospital after he was bitten by a snake on Thursday (December 10). https://www.wymt.com/content/news/Kentucky-Reptile-Zoo-breeds-rare-island-viper-390973861.html, OKEU Hospital Responds Amid Claims Of Negligence In Woman’s Death, Calls For Justice After Father Killed, Son Injured In Castries Shooting, Father & Son Were Returning From Peacemaking Mission When Shot. Do you think they would refrain from running for their lives just because of a fer de lance? They were both imported to these islands through sheer stupidity. Like other reptiles in the Caribbean there are Fer de Lance subspecies indigenous to different islands, and the one found on St. Lucia, Bothrops Caribbaeus (also known as the St. Lucia Lancehead, an anglicised translation of Fer de Lance) is not only indigenous to St. Lucia, but outside of specimens held in captivity (https://www.wymt.com/content/news/Kentucky-Reptile-Zoo-breeds-rare-island-viper … The Saint Lucia fer de lance is an endangered pitviper that is widely feared because of its potentially deadly bite. To paraphrase the Walcott brothers, ‘MASSA DAY DONE’. Half the battle is won if folks learn about the fer de lance and understand the nature of the animal. Such an article should not be shared as news, nor as an opinion column since the facts are completely wrong. Restaurants could put snake items on their menu like snake soup, snake steak. Saint Lucia can be proud of the fact that we are home to four (4) endemic snakes: the st. Lucia Boa constrictor or tete chyenn, st. Lucia racer, St. Lucia thread snake and of course the St. Lucia Fer-de-Lance or viper. Stephy Anius The snake is threatened and today limited to two areas of the island. He was transported to the hospital where he is receiving treatment. The Saint Lucia fer-de-lance (also known as the Saint Lucia pitviper) is, as may be suspected from the name, found nowhere else but on the island of Saint Lucia. This very poisonous snake that can grow to over nine feet in length is known here as the St. Lucia viper (Bothrops caribbaeus) and is now recognized as a separate species.It is the most dangerous snake found in the Caribbean and Central and South America and causes more human deaths than any other reptile in the Americas. this madness should never have been published. Do you think the African slave would really be afraid to run for freedom as a result of fer de lance? A Fer-De-Lance was caught on the edge of a forest in Fond St. Jacques. The other three are the Fer-de-Lance, the rare Maria Island snake and the tiny, soil dwelling, blind worm snake. I do agree however to rid the country of both snakes, rats and mongoose as they are pests to the local indigenous wildlife. THE EDITOR Learn how your comment data is processed. Africa has many more snakes that are many times more deadly than the fer de lance. In time the snake population grew at an alarming rate and they were forced to use drastic Terciopelo ("velvet" in Spanish), Fer-de-lance (St.Lucia) The Fer-de-Lance snake is … as the drum major for the police band. They like things as they are as it a perfect vehicle to serve their interests. (An Italian made shoe from a snake found only on the island of St. Lucia)……………Plus, it’s better than killing them and leaving them to rot………….But as usual, conservationist will fight everything and listen to no one but themselves. Both you and malaway are part of the ignoramuses that should not breed. The Saint Lucia lancehead can reach a total length in excess of 1.3 m (4.3 ft). Reports are that the inmate was working on the prison farm when he was bitten by a fer-de-lance snake, which is known to be venomous. The Boa is restricted to the drier areas of St. Lucia. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The same goes to the editors of the St. Lucia Times – fact check before publishing erroneous articles. If perhaps the venom of our fer de lance contains a substance in it the can be used to cure cancer and other debilitating diseases, would you still want it annihilated? Saint Lucia is a gorgeous place to visit with scenic vistas and pristine beaches, make sure to follow the below warnings to make the most of your visit. Yes fool from the south americas the amazon which is infested with all soughts of reptiles,they too sailed out through the west in dugged out tree canoes and offcourse i’m betting they brought their culture and beliefs with them which were carried simply in their flat heads. The point is,those snakes where already here before the Europeans. The fact that Saint Lucia’s fer-de-lance is endemic – the only place it is found in the world -means it was not introduced to Saint Lucia. The Forestry Division has recommended a “no kill policy” for the fer de lance within it’s natural habitat inside the Forest reserve. The writer should do research before he regurgitates nonsense. Do you think they would destroy their own. So as long as the thing does not interfere with people they should leave it alone. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. A bounty was declared on the snake, monies were allocated to police stations around the island to pay Fer-de-lance, any of several extremely venomous snakes of the viper family (Viperidae) found in diverse habitats from cultivated lands to forests throughout tropical America and tropical Asia. Please do your research before writing such misinformation. with all of your educated research you failed to research Africa and that fer de lance that you say is indigenous to St Lucia We need to instruct people on how to prevent a snake bite and the things to do to survive a snake bite should in case one gets bitten. Much less research is needed for that! Fer de lance is one of the five species of snakes found in the island. Rainforests shelter wild orchids, giant ferns, and brightly colored birds, including the island's national symbol, the Saint Lucian parrot. May 21, 2019 This species is very dangerous and is the cause of more human fatalities than any reptile in the Americas. We need now to educate the public about the fer de lance. the forest. What is the Spanish Name for a Fer de Lance? St Lucia houses a wide variety of tropical flora and fauna. That venomous viper is not indigenous to St. Lucia, it was imported into the island by plantation owners who wanted to deter their slaves from escaping and seeking shelter in It is the most dangerous snake of Central and South America and is the main cause of fatal snakebite incidents within its range. St Lucia is simply beautiful. I don’t know why we keep borrowing other islands history like the the Columbus story. who are you to want to exterminate it? The fer-de-lance, known in Spanish as barba amarilla (“yellow chin”), is a pit viper (subfamily Crotalinae)—i.e., distinguished by a small sensory pit between each eye and nostril. A popular police sergeant lost his job when he was discovered stealing the snake head money. The forest does contain the deadly Fer de Lance snake, but you are unlikely to see one as long as you do not stray from the path. The only wildlife we managed to photograph on St Lucia was this small lizard which took up residence in our kitchen. I totally agree with u. Called a manicou in Saint Lucia, this opossum is relatively common over much of the island. The two animals are then provoked in the exceedingly close quarters to fight. Good day, I write to you from the island of St Lucia where we are undertaking a project in a part of the island that is heavily populated by a venomous pit viper know commonly know as the fer-de-lance or ‘Bothrops Asper’. I guess u’re mostly carib or arawak when speaking about your ancestors cuz if your ancestors which is black they were sure brought to the west by those slave traders on the slave ships tied up in chains and shackles and also alot of the fruitful vegetation were brought along to feed the multitude..the breadfruit were brought in the region by captain Bligh the mangoes from india and Africa…u’re right on columbus meeting people there but it was not our African ancestors which were definitely brought here during the english,french,spanish,portugese and dutch mercenaries days. SLNT Uses Multi-Pronged Approach To Fer-De-Lance Management. The other three are the Fer-de-Lance, the rare Maria Island snake and the tiny, soil dwelling, blind worm snake. The Fer-de-lance is a highly venomous pit viper species found from southern Mexico to northern South America. The St. Lucia Fer-De-Lance has a well-earned reputation for being one of the most venomous snakes in the world. We have vipers in various positions of power here. Manicou. However, further research is needed to verify those claims. we have enough problems with the baby mamas and no-papas already. this person is insane and incapable of a logical thought inside his head. The fer-de-lance, known in Spanish as barba amarilla (“yellow chin”) How many eggs does the Fer de Lance lay? Fer-de-lance, any of several extremely venomous snakes of the viper family (Viperidae) found in diverse habitats from cultivated lands to forests throughout tropical America and tropical Asia. Breaking News, News Updates, Top Stories Do you expect Sandals Resorts Intenational’s positive contribution to St.Lucia to continue with the passing …. farmers for every snake head they brought in. the snake venom can be use to treat cancer and various other ailments. It is found only on the island of Saint Lucia in the Caribbean Lesser Antilles. The St. Lucia Fer-De-Lance has a well-earned reputation for being one of the most venomous snakes in the world. To all the free-thinking innovators, think of what you can do with snake skin— purses, boots cell phone covers, to name but a few. PRESS RELEASE – On December 7 and 8, the Saint Lucia National Trust (SLNT) and the Forestry Division within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Natural Resources and Co-operatives facilitated two Fer-de-Lance Safety Awareness Training Workshops for people at risk of being bitten by the Fer-de-Lance due to … Until then it would be remiss of us to wipe out the species before verifying those claims by conducting the research. St Lucia times should not even publish an article with so much misinformation you should do your research also. Wow I hope that those who are in the position to exact this policy is paying attention because you are so right it is high time that we do away with those things that were put in place to hurt us and our children i saw a video someone posted last year taken somewhere near Mon Repos of a boa constrictor the gerth on it was about 22 inches now think for an instance what this reptile feeds on a snake this size can Swallow an adult human and they are here talking about preservation wait until it does something terrible to one of their families and it will be open season on them but why should we wait when we already know what they are capable of. The fer de lance is endemic and not introduced. they seem to be working under the illusion that time makes introduced species (like the fer-de-lance, boa constrictor and mongoose) indigenous. The mongoose and the snake are deadly enemies and will engage in mortal combat on sight. St. Lucian fer de lance comes in different names though pertains to the same animal only, St. Lucia lancehead or St. Lucia Pit Viper. In Saint Lucia the fer-de-lance is found only within a few drier areas along the central east and west coasts; as these areas are not highly populated bites from this snake are very rare. The gorgeous destination of St Lucia offers holidaymakers everything from thrilling water sports to breathtaking black-sand seashores, abundant tropical rainforest and world-class health spas. Otherwise the Mongoose and the snake do not bother each other in the wild. this is stupid white man mentality that have destroyed many creatures of the earth in places like australia and caused living things to go extinct! measures. Video taken by a friend of one of our trips to St. Lucia. However, the Viper is protected by law. The snake has the same status as … The Fer-de-Lance id not protected but from what I have heard in other broadcasts, it’s venom has great medicinal values that are being studied at the moment. I think we ought to be concerned about perpetuating your species. For YEARS we’ve been hearing about the potential uses on the snake venom and to this day NOTHING. He also lost another job when he was drummed out– pun fully intended– A venomous pit viper species found only in St. Lucia. A voice from the past, Castries, 11th December 2017: On 7 th and 8 th December 2017, the Saint Lucia National Trust (SLNT) and the Forestry Division within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Natural Resources and Co-operatives facilitated two Fer-de-Lance Safety Awareness Training Workshops for persons at risk of being bitten by the Fer-de-Lance due to their area of employment. This article is utter nonsense. Watch where you tread! Fer-de-Lance Snake. I am surprised that St. Lucia Times published this horrendous piece of misinformation. Although the majority of St Lucia's wildlife is protected under the Saint Lucia Wildlife Protection Act of 1980, the Fer-de-lance is not. Another, important point that needs to be highlighted is the fact that to date the fer de lance is not protected by law. It grew at such an alarming rate that the government of the day was forced to take drastic action. What is a young Fer de Lance Like? The name fer-de-lance means “spearhead” in French. For a small island we are blessed with great biodiversity and a spectacular landscape. 1 Comment. For many years, schoolchildren were erroneously taught that these snakes were brought to Saint Lucia to control runaway slaves. A Fer De Lance can lay up to 80 eggs at one time. The Fer de Lance reaches sexual maturity at 3 to 4 feet for females while males average at 3 feet. Among the animals present in St Lucia don’t forget the St Lucian parrot an endemic and protected species, the boa constrictor, the Fer de Lance viper, many species of frog, iguanas and lizards, mongoose and agoutis. Pancho Pablo Maguez, Writer, Your email address will not be published. A Big Feat Media Production. It is a species of venomous snake found only in the West Indies. St Lucia’s fer-de-lance snake is now considered an endangered species. I must note however that the only natural predator of the St. Lucia viper another snake called the St. Lucia Cribo is now extinct. I think we should start with the mongoose which was introduced to the island and now our bird numbers are going down,non venomous snakes are going extinct if they aren’t all gone already like the cribo,the St.Lucia Racer/quwese was lucky to be on Maria Island……and by the way,the St.Lucia Lancehead is not protected to my knowledge. However, the Viper is protected by law. It’s time to look at the economical value of the snake meat and skin. Like other reptiles in the Caribbean there are Fer de Lance subspecies indigenous to different islands, and the one found on St. Lucia, Bothrops Caribbaeus (also known as the St. Lucia Lancehead, an anglicised translation of Fer de Lance) is not only indigenous to St. Lucia, but outside of specimens held in captivity (https://www.wymt.com/content/news/Kentucky-Reptile-Zoo-breeds-rare-island-viper-390973861.html), is unique only found on this island. who ever wrote this is a raving lunatic that ought to be taken to Golden Hope together with his companions on here. tamedisbeast you are a Jackass for uttering such nonsense.no you insolent fool first, we all have to agree it’s an introduced deadly snake and second, we especially need to have the national trust realize it would be best to focus their good efforts more on non-deadly indigenous species. Snakes of the genus Bothrops, especially: . PRESS RELEASE – THE Forestry Division, a major partner of the project, “Conservation and Management of the Endemic Fer-de-Lance on the small island developing state of Saint Lucia”, was the recipient of a supply of protective gear and equipment under the project on November 3. The time has come to get rid of this deadly scourge on the lives of hard-working farmers. less deadly and a lot more succulent— the farmer’s chickens. A fer-de-lance snake (Photo: britannica.com) Reports are that the inmate was working on the prison farm when he was bitten by a fer-de-lance snake, which is known to be venomous. This was actually printed on an online news! Although generations of local school children were taught that these snakes were imported in droves to keep slaves from fleeing plantations into the surrounding forests, this is in fact completely unfounded. Fer-de-Lance is French for spearhead (literally "iron of the lance"), and may refer to: .

fer de lance st lucia

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