Only the country’s navy and a handful of vetted scientists are allowed to visit Ilha da Queimada Grande, located just off the coast of Brazil. A very specific wildlife problem is to blame.
When speaking of dangerous destinations, more often than not that danger is caused by reasons such as political instability, climate hazards or wars. However, the island that is being called the world’s most dangerous is an entirely different case.
Located around 35 kilometers off the coast near Sao Paulo, Ilha da Queimada Grande’s surface measures just over 43 hectares. And while it might look like any other tiny island, no one is allowed to visit, except for members of Brazil’s navy and scientists who have been carefully vetted and informed beforehand.
Those measures and the island’s nickname are closely tied. Ilha da Queimada Grande is also known as Snake Island because of its dense snake population. According to estimates, the island counts about one snake per square meter.
One of those is called the golden lancehead (Bothrops insularis), a species of pit viper that can be found only on Snake Island. For 11.000 years, the golden lance head has been evolving in complete isolation from mainland Brazil and it is now considered as one of the deadliest snakes in the world. The venom of the snake, measuring about one meter lengthwise, is said to be fast-acting and to lead to an agonising death, being five times as powerful than the venom of its mainland counterpart.
Snake venom with a purpose
However, since there are virtually no humans allowed on the island, there are just as little documented cases of golden lancehead bites on humans. According to scientists, their venom is developed to immobilise birds, not mammals, and the vipers are non-aggressive and don’t react when approached by people.
Currently, the 2000-4000 golden lancehead snakes living on Snake Island are mainly being put to use by the Butantan Institute and IMCBio scientists. They are said to be essential to helping create antivenom, especially since Brazil experiences between 27,000 and 30,000 snake bites per year, around 100 of which result in death. Moreover, the golden lancehead’s venom is an ingredient in blood pressure medication.
Given the snake’s venomous character, its critically endangered status, and the fact that in 2008 one golden lancehead could be sold on the black market for about $30,000, it isn’t surprising that the island has been off limits for most humans for years.
