PEOPLE'S DAILY (Beijing, China) 25 November 05 Number of pit viper in Dalian snake isle jumps to 20,000
For many people the thought of thousands of snakes slithering through bushes and hanging from trees would only make their skin crawl. For wildlife experts working on a remote island in the East China Sea, however, it's a cause for celebration.
A recent survey of the Pallus Pit Viper shows there's been a huge population explosion at the Laotie Mountain-Snake Island Nature Reserve. There are now more 20,000 Pallas Pit Vipers at the famous nature reserve that attracts scientists and eco tourists from around the world. Previously the snake population was estimated at 13,000.
The nature reserve is a small, uninhabited island that is home to more than 180 species of flowering plant It's this combination plus the protective environmental policies of Liaoning Province that have allowed the pit vipers to flourish.
Experts believe conditions are so good on the island they expect the numbers of pit vipers to continue to increase.
It takes a keen eye to spot the snakes as they camouflage themselves in trees and shrubs waiting for their favorite, feathered meal to land nearby.
Scientists have been studying the Pallus Pit Viper on the island since 1950.
The nature reserve there was established in 1980.
Number of pit viper in Dalian snake isle jumps to 20,000

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