Baby Snake Birth Announcement!

Back on August 16th, I wrote about watching a snake give birth. If you missed that blog: day-44-baby-snakes. Now since there has been a public announcement from the zoo, I can now happily inform you that the nine baby snakes are Ocellate Mountain Vipers (Vipera wagneri)! 

Here is some information from the Saint Louis Zoo's Facebook page:

"The babies were born at the Saint Louis Zoo on August 16, an important event for this highly endangered species from northeastern Turkey. The venomous snake was thought to be extinct for nearly 140 years but then was "rediscovered" in eastern Turkey in 1983. Once the word got out, the news led to severe over-collecting by European and Turkish snake collectors. This is a serious threat for the future survival of the species, which has already been wiped out in much of its very small range. The breeding of the Zoo's vipers was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan. The Zoo is a participant in this cooperative program, working with other conservation organizations to ensure the survival of the species."

9 Baby Snakes!

Photo by Mark Wanner, Zoological Manager of Herpetology and Aquatics

Here is a link to a segment of the local news:
Fox 2 Now St. Louis
The short video explains some of the history about the snake and you get to see footage of one of the babies!

Word even got out to USA Today:

Since we are one of only three zoos in the country to even care for these snakes, this birth is a huge success! I am so glad that there is so much publicity about these new snakes. It was definitely exciting to see snake #9 be born and watch it experience the world for the first time!