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In a significant milestone for conservation, Eastern Indigo Snakes—revered as the “Emperors of the Forest”—have been reintroduced into the wild in Alabama and Florida. This release is part of a long-term initiative to restore these endangered apex predators to the western portion of their historic range, where they play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance.
A Milestone in Rewilding
This reintroduction effort aims to bring Eastern Indigo Snakes back to areas where they were extirpated decades ago, with captive-bred and head-started snakes now being released at carefully selected sites in both Alabama and Florida. Annual releases are designed to create stable, self-sustaining populations on protected landscapes with enough habitat to support the species.
This year, 44 snakes were released in Alabama and another 42 in Florida, bringing the total number of snakes released across both sites to over 500.
“The partnership-driven effort to recover indigo snake populations in the Gulf Region stands as one of the most ambitious and inspiring conservation initiatives ever undertaken,” says Dr. Chris Jenkins, CEO of The Orianne Society. “It’s a testament to what we can achieve when we work together to restore what was once lost.”
About the Eastern Indigo Snake
The Eastern Indigo Snake is North America’s longest native snake, reaching lengths of over eight feet. Known for its striking iridescent blue-black coloration and calm disposition, this species plays an important ecological role by helping to regulate populations of small animals—including both venomous and non-venomous snakes. In the northern part of its range, it depends on Gopher Tortoise burrows for shelter during the colder months.
A Broad Conservation Partnership
The reintroduction project is supported by a broad and committed partnership of conservation organizations, government agencies, zoos, and research institutions, including The Orianne Society, the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens’ Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Nature Conservancy, Zoo Atlanta, Auburn University, Welaka National Fish Hatchery, and the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center. These reintroduction and monitoring efforts are currently being supported by a variety of funding sources, including a Recovery Challenge Grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This funding supports captive breeding efforts and allowed partners to come together earlier this year for a multi-day workshop focused on long-term project success.
“Working with this partnership has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my career,” says Dr. Houston Chandler, Science Director of The Orianne Society, “We have been able to make meaningful progress towards recovering one of the most charismatic species inhabiting longleaf pine forests in the southeastern United States.”
Long-term Monitoring in Georgia
In addition to supporting reintroductions, The Orianne Society continues long-term research and monitoring of Eastern Indigo Snake populations in Georgia. Over the past nine years, the team has completed more than 525 surveys and logged nearly 2,300 person hours in search of this elusive reptile.
This ongoing work contributes essential data for the recovery of the species and serves as a benchmark for evaluating the success of reintroduction efforts in neighboring states.
