Cancun "Phase" Boas

[jjspirko]

No this is not some new island boa phase or morph it is actually a sad thing. Wondering if anyone else say this on discovery? I just watched a show I guess about 2 weeks ago.

Here is the deal right now there are thousands of boas (BCI) on Cancun island (yes the vacation meca) they mostly stay inland in the jungle. There are many more then the island can support in fact at night now there are no "jungle sounds" because they have eaten everything, bids, rodents, etc. So how did they get there? They are not native to the island, best guess is in 1971 a movie was filmed there with some boas in about a 15 second shot. Apparently the propmaster released 6 boas and with no natural preditors on the island they went nuts.

Now the island is literaly in ruin, with many small animals completely gone or near gone and chicken coops are being raided like mad by the hungry boas. The Mexico Govenrment does not know what to do and does not want to kill the snakes.

My thought why not put a bounty on live caught boas I bet they would be hunted out in a few months and I am sure breeders would love to get their hands on some new stock from this uniqe group.

Anyway this is a clear indication of why no reptile should be released except where it orginally came from. All this for 15 seconds of footage in a "B" movie,

[joe2500hiss]

Wow, never saw that show but sounds like a big mess! I agree with you though I would like to get my hands on a few of those boas and would definitely be in the market if they became available.

[Purrrfect9]

I agree jj. I think that the best method would be to do a live capture of the boas, then maybe try to auction them off to breeders or even some Zoo's. It might be too risky to capture them and re-release them back at their native habitat for fear of some parasitic hitch hikers, which can also be just as destructive to the ecosystem as the BCI's have been to Cancun.

[jjspirko]

Yea relocation just doesn't seem like a good answer. They could all be collected, properly treated for internal and external parasites and then sold to buyers all over.

One thing I noticed is they were all smaller then average for a boa even those that looked quite healty. Possibly over what (35 years) with only six animals fueling the genitics they natually went tward smaller body size to accomidate the limited resources of the island. If so breeding them into existing BCI stock may create with some back breeding ect. smaller then average boas.

Who knows but the possibility is interesting. In any event I think the concept of a Cancun line boa is marketable and therefore a partial solution to a pretty bad environmental problem. I would deffinitely take a pair if I had the option, perhaps the money could help the native people of cancun who can't even afford to look a the hotels on thier own island let alone ever stay in one,

[Skiploder]

Yea relocation just doesn't seem like a good answer. They could all be collected, properly treated for internal and external parasites and then sold to buyers all over.

One thing I noticed is they were all smaller then average for a boa even those that looked quite healty. Possibly over what (35 years) with only six animals fueling the genitics they natually went tward smaller body size to accomidate the limited resources of the island. If so breeding them into existing BCI stock may create with some back breeding ect. smaller then average boas.

Who knows but the possibility is interesting. In any event I think the concept of a Cancun line boa is marketable and therefore a partial solution to a pretty bad environmental problem. I would deffinitely take a pair if I had the option, perhaps the money could help the native people of cancun who can't even afford to look a the hotels on thier own island let alone ever stay in one,

Both Vin Russo and Gus are actively marketing these snakes.

Cancun Boas

[jjspirko]

Both Vin Russo and Gus are actively marketing these snakes.

Cancun Boas

That is very cool, I just contacted them about getting a pair! I would really like to know the source of these animals, (how they got them off Cancun Island) and can it be verified. I asked them that and will let ya'll know what I hear back.

My impression from the show is the Mexican Government was in analysis paralysis but who knows how old the show was or when it was taped?

[jjspirko]

Hey sorry I need to make one MAJOR correction. After talking to the guys skip referred me to I made an error. The boas that were introduced by man are not on Cancun, they are naturally occuring there.

They are on Cozumel! Other then that the story is the same. So unfortunately you indeed apparently can't get these boas yet, I would love to see Mexico get a clue and harvest and sell them off to good breeders, etc. I am sure there would be plenty of demand.

Sorry for the error guys,

Here are some links about the whole thing,

http://www.springerlink.com/content/h4w3035082157l32/

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/conten...00004/00009101

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Its very hard to find Cancun boas in the US now. So many over the years have been bred with other localities therefore ruining so much of the pure blood we had. Its all up to guys live Vin and Gus to keep it clean because you never know if/when new blood will come into the country

[juddb]

Great post JJ.