The Fort Worth Zoo released 75 Louisiana pine snakes in the Kisatchie National Forest – the most snakes released by the zoo at once since its conservation program began in 2015.
The May 9 release marked a major conservation milestone; the Louisiana pine snake is endangered and one of the rarest snakes in North America.
To date, the Fort Worth Zoo has released a total of 229 Louisiana pine snakes into a restored and maintained area within the snake’s historic range, the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana. The released snakes were hatched in 2023 and raised at the Zoo until they were large enough to survive in the wild (at about 2.5 feet long).
The Fort Worth Zoo is one of only four institutions caring for this species in the United States, participating in a breeding program that maintains a healthy, genetically diverse population of the species. The program serves as a hedge against extinction.
More than 90% of the snake’s historic habitat is gone, making it one of the most endangered snakes in North America. The population is threatened from land fragmentation caused by urban development and suppression of natural fires within its forest habitat. Additionally, the snakes are an important part of the ecosystem, acting as a natural pest control.
About the Fort Worth Zoo
The nationally acclaimed Fort Worth Zoo has been voted a top zoo in North America by USA Today, one of the “World’s Greatest” by BloombergTV, the Best Zoo in Texas by Yahoo Travel, the No. 5 zoo in the nation by USA Travel Guide, the No. 1 family attraction in the DFW Metroplex by Zagat survey and a Top 10 Zoo or Aquarium by FamilyFun magazine. The zoo, which is home to nearly 7,000 animals and welcomes more than 1 million visitors a year, is beginning the final installment of its four-phase master plan. The first phase, African Savanna, opened in 2018; the second phase, Elephant Springs, opened in 2021; the third, Predators of Asia & Africa, opened in June 2023. The fourth and final phase, Forests & Jungles of the World, is next.
Information for this article was provided by the Fort Worth Zoo.
