Tourist in Ibiza. Credit Line: Andrew Matthews / Pa Images / Profimedia
Ibiza, famous for his crystalline waters and summer parties, is now in the center of an ecological emergency. More and more tourists say they are “too terrified to swim” after they have observed in the waters of the island's coast, numerous snakes – up to 1.8 meters long, writes at the stamp.
Some of them, shocked, have canceled their holidays. Behind these episodes, however, a deeper crisis is hidden: the invasion of the grass snake, a snake originating from continental Spain and North Africa, which forever changes the face of the island.
From dry to sea: how did the invasion begin
The Hippocrepis Hemorrhois grass snake arrived in Ibiza in the early 2000s, transported unintentionally among the roots of the ornamental olives imported from the peninsula. In an environment devoid of natural predators and rich in food-especially the Podarcis Pityusensis wall lizard, these snakes multiplied quickly. What at first were sporadic appearances became a leisure phenomenon. “When I saw them in the sea it was a shock. We never expected to become such a skillful swimmers,” explains Víctor Colomar, the coordinator of the wildlife protection consortium. From the Portinatx ribs to the S'Sspartar islands, the snakes colonize areas that were once safe for native fauna.
The phenomenon of gigantism: oversized grass snakes
In addition to their amazing swimming capacity, the snakes in Ibiza become bigger. The record belongs to a copy caught in 2013, which measures 1.83 meters long, compared to an average of only 89 centimeters. Scientists attribute this “gigantism” to the lack of predators and abundance of food. The result? Larger snakes, more eggs and therefore an even faster population increase.
The disappearance of the wall lizard
For thousands of years, the wall lizard has been one of the emblem's emblems, with its green and blue colors that combine perfectly with the rocky landscape. Today, however, this species is in a serious danger. On islands such as S'ora, the population was completely exterminated, the last observation dating from 2017. According to experts, if the invasion continues at this rate, by 2030 the wall lizard could completely disappear from Ibiza. “This is an ecological disaster,” warns the biologist Jaume Estarellas, specialized in invasive species in the Balearic Islands.
What is done to counteract the invasion
Environmental authorities and associations are engaged in a race against the stopwatch. The IbizaPreweating Foundation has already installed 280 traps, capturing almost 500 copies last year. Cofib has captured over 3,000 snakes between Mallorca, Ibiza and Formance. Despite efforts, experts recognize that the situation is still far from under control. “The truth is that I underestimated this species of snakes. They are extremely adaptable predators,” says Estarellas.
A threat affecting tourism and
On the social networks there are images of snakes that move zigzag at sea, feeding fear and uncertainty. The most recent episode took place in the Portinatx area, in the north of the island, where two people in a boat have overcame a snake of almost two meters long. A shocked tourist shared the experience on social networks, writing: “It's incredible how many snakes are. I'm afraid to sink. Twenty years ago I would never have imagined that. It's like a curse had hit what was once a quiet paradise island.”
Some even decided not to be among the water, or to cancel their holidays. In a curious episode, a hike found a waterfall left for snakes, with a ticket: “With this heat, they will be their thirst.” Another video, published by a couple who found a copy of about 1.70 meters, clearly shows the snake by swimming offshore. “I didn't know that the snakes could swim,” they commented unbelieving.
According to the expert Antiònia Maria Cirer, it is not unusual for the snakes to take refuge in the boats left on land in winter. When the boats are put back in the water, the animals fall and swim to the nearest coast. “It is an instinctive behavior, which causes alarm throughout the island,” she explained. The situation has reached worrying quotas: snakes are reported every day in rural areas, fields and even on roads. (Material made with the support of Rador Radio Romania)
