Page 11 - HOH

Saturday 25 November 2023 locAl
A10

Episodie LXXVII -77 The Boa: an Invader

ORANJESTAD — The rapid trade, threatening to over- mostly thrive at the edges
adaptability of some in- turn decades of conserva- of open spaces. They thrive
troduced animal species tion gains. in dry tropical deserts and
that later became invasive semi-deserts, woodlands,
on our continent has dev- The Boa scrub and farmlands.
astated great part of the Representatives of the Boa
original ecosystem and the family are found from north- Boa constrictors are not
new surrounding environ- ern Mexico, some Carib- generally considered in-
ments in which they found bean islands till Argentina. tentionally aggressive or
themselves. Of all the boas, constric- vicious pets. The snake as
tors can live in the greatest pet is more or less indiffer-
Since the years of discov- variety of habitats ranging ent to their owners. They
ery when pets and domes- from sea level to moderate are not considered signifi-
tic animals that went astray elevation, including des- cantly capable of show-
and survived, created a erts, wet tropical forests, ing any type of affection
very negative impact if open savannas and culti- as mammals such as dogs
procreated and became vated fields. They are both and cats do.
successful. Traditional med- terrestrial and arboreal.
icine, Ivory trade and the Boa constrictors strike when
lucrative illegal business Though common believe they perceive a threat. irascible, hissing loudly and Aruba’s native bird spe-
in exotic animals has dev- often imagine boa constric- Their bite can be painful, es- striking repeatedly when cies are under an alarm-
astating consequences. tors living in jungles, their pecially from large snakes, disturbed, while those from ing tread by the boa that
It is menacing to overturn habitats are actually much but is rarely dangerous to South America tame down came to our island about
decades of conserva- more diverse. When rain- humans. Specimens from more readily. 20 years ago as a pet or
tion gains in illegal wildlife forests is their habitat, they Central America are more maybe as a stowaway on
an air plane or a ship etc.
The first boa was discov-
ered in 1999. Depending
on its size, a mother boa
can give birth to 30-50 live
baby snakes at a time.
With no natural predators
on the island, the popula-
tion has exploded dramati-
cally in a very short time.

The bulk of their diet con-
sists also of rodents, lizards
and mammals as large as
a big domestic cat has
been reported to have
been consumed. Young
boa constrictors eat small
mice, birds, bats, lizards,
and amphibians.

Juvenile Boa constrictors
feeds once a week, adults
approximately every two
weeks. Boas only hunt
when hungry and fast dur-
ing shedding or illness. Boas
that has not eaten for three
weeks can still be perfectly
fine and fit.

To get to know more re-
garding Aruba’s and its ori-
gins, its animals culture etc.
we highly recommend you
to book your participation.
Living our cultural encoun-
ter session is mind opening
and entertaining curious
hearts for decades. Mail
us at etnianativa03@gmail.
Article by: Etnia Nativa com.

Whatsapp us +297 592 2702 and book Our facilities and activities
your Aruban exprerience take place close to your
Etnia Nativa is close to the high rise hotels place.q