Tracy KarplusViews:
The Snake That Started It All
More than 18 years ago, a young girl named Orianne had the opportunity to hold an Eastern Indigo Snake at a zoo. Captivated by the animal, she asked her father, Dr. Thomas Kaplan, whether she could have one as a pet.
When he explained that she could not because the Eastern Indigo Snake was a threatened species, Orianne asked a simple but powerful question:
“Can we save it?”
That question sparked a conservation effort that would eventually become The Orianne Society.
A Mission Inspired by the Eastern Indigo Snake
Dr. Kaplan partnered with Dr. Chris Jenkins and a growing network of conservationists to develop a comprehensive strategy for Eastern Indigo Snake conservation.
Together, they launched Project Orianne in 2008, established the Orianne Indigo Snake Preserve, now known as the Longleaf Stewardship Center, and helped create the Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation. They also supported range-wide research, habitat protection, monitoring, and efforts to restore Eastern Indigo Snakes to portions of their historic range.
What began with one child’s concern for a threatened snake grew into an organization dedicated to conserving imperiled reptiles and amphibians and the habitats they depend on.
Why Eastern Indigo Snakes Matter
The Eastern Indigo Snake is the longest native snake in North America and one of the most remarkable reptiles of the southeastern United States.
Despite its impressive size, the species is nonvenomous and generally docile. Eastern Indigo Snakes travel across large areas and use a variety of habitats throughout the year. In many parts of their range, they depend on Gopher Tortoise burrows for shelter during colder weather.
Because they require large, connected landscapes, protecting Eastern Indigo Snakes also helps conserve longleaf pine forests, wetlands, Gopher Tortoises, and many other species that share these ecosystems.
A Species Still in Need of Conservation
Eastern Indigo Snake populations have declined because of habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, road mortality, persecution, and the historic collection of snakes from the wild.
The species has disappeared from portions of its former range and remains federally protected. Its recovery requires long-term collaboration among conservation organizations, government agencies, researchers, landowners, zoos, and local communities.
Continuing the Work
Today, the Eastern Indigo Snake remains at the heart of The Orianne Society’s mission.
Our work includes long-term population monitoring, habitat management, scientific research, disease surveillance, land conservation, and support for reintroduction programs in areas where the species has disappeared.
At the Longleaf Stewardship Center in southern Georgia, our staff manages and restores longleaf pine habitat through prescribed fire, native groundcover restoration, and other conservation practices. Across the region, we work with partners to better understand Eastern Indigo Snake populations and advance their recovery.
Celebrating Snakes Everywhere
World Snake Day is an opportunity to celebrate the diversity, beauty, and ecological importance of snakes around the world.
Snakes help maintain healthy ecosystems as both predators and prey. They regulate populations of rodents and other animals, support food webs, and serve as indicators of environmental health. Yet they remain among the most misunderstood and persecuted wildlife.
By learning more about snakes, sharing accurate information, protecting habitat, and allowing wild snakes to move safely through the landscape, each of us can help change the way these animals are perceived and treated.
Help Us Protect Snakes and Their Habitats
The story of The Orianne Society began with a question: Can we save it?
Today, that question continues to guide our work—not only for the Eastern Indigo Snake, but for imperiled reptiles and amphibians throughout North America and beyond.
This World Snake Day, join us in celebrating the species that inspired our organization and continues to shape our mission.
Learn more about our conservation programs, follow our work, share our message, or make a gift to support science-based conservation for snakes and the habitats they call home.
Our beautiful 2026 World Snake Day illustrations – the Eastern Indigo Snake, longleaf pine cone, longleaf pine sapling and apple berry – were hand-painted by Jenna Kurecki, an artist based in Chicago, Illinois. Learn more about Jenna and see more of her work on her website: https://www.jennakurecki.com/
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