It has been missing from its natural habitat for decades, but the largest native snake in the U.S. may be reclaiming some of its original territory.
Thanks to reintroduction efforts, the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division reported the sighting of a wild-born Eastern Indigo snake in Alabama for only the second time in the last 60 years.
The rare reptile was seen in the Conecuh National Forest, and its appearance is the result of a reintroduction project that began in 2006, according to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
“The snake indicates that the project is resulting in some thriving and reproducing indigos — just what we wanted,” the department wrote in a statement. “Reintroducing a species to its native range is a daunting task, and we celebrate each step of its success.”
Biologists say the Eastern Indigo is a key member of the ecosystem of their native land, and that if they disappear completely, it could cause a chain reaction across other species in the area.
The snake became scarce in the 1950s thanks mostly to habitat loss.
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