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The National Environment and
Planning Agency, NEPA, is urging Jamaicans, especially farmers and
construction workers not to harm the Jamaican Boa or Yellow Snake.
The snake, which is endemic to Jamaica, poses no threat to humans as
it feeds on birds, bats, rats, lizards, frogs and insects. They are
the largest snakes in Jamaica, reaching lengths of eight feet or
longer.
NEPA wishes to applaud the
action of police personnel from the Santa Cruz Police Station in St.
Elizabeth whose quick action led to the confiscation of three adult
snakes; two male and one female, and the arrest of a man on Monday,
April 21, 2008. According to the police the man reportedly caught
the animals in Maggoty in the parish and was held as he transported
them in a bucket. NEPA was called in by the lawmen and the animals
were identified as being of the Jamaican Boa variety. They were
measured by the NEPA team, with the female being seven feet in
length and the two males measuring six feet each.
The NEPA team then transported
the snakes to the heavily forested Cameron Hill Area in Maggoty
where they were released.
Another Jamaican Boa was
recovered by the NEPA team and released in to the wild after it
lodged itself into a drain pipe in a field in Drax Hall in St. Ann
on Thursday, April 17, 2008. The female snake which measured
approximately seven feet in length was apparently frightened by the
presence of workers in the field and took evasive action. NEPA was
called to the area and successfully removed the snake from its
hiding place. The animal was then driven to an area south of St.
Ann’s Bay and released into a heavily forested area.
NEPA wishes to applaud the
actions of the workers at the field, who sought to protect the
animal until the arrival of representatives from the Agency.
Persons are being reminded that
the Jamaican Boa or Yellow Snake is a Protected Species under the
Wild Life Protection Act (1945). Under Section 6 (2b) of the Act,
any person who is found in possession of any live or dead protected
animal or bird, or any parts thereof is guilty of an offence. The
maximum penalty for such an offence is a 100-thousand-dollar fine or
12 months in prison, or both.
If you encounter the Jamaican
Boa or Yellow Snake, kindly contact the Ecosystems Branch at NEPA @
754-7540.
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