World of Reptiles, Bronx Zoo (No. 1)

World of Reptiles has been an attraction at the zoo since it first opened. The building’s first curator was Raymond Lee Ditmars, who had kept 45 snakes in his attic before being hired at the zoo. The exhibit is a long hall with various terrariums situated on both sides. The exhibit also features a nursery area, which exhibits newborn herptiles born at the zoo, as well as a window into the off-show breeding and caring facilities. In the building, the zoo breeds and exhibits a wide range of endangered species, including Cuban crocodile, false gharial, Chinese alligator, yellow-headed day gecko, blue iguana, Mary River turtle, Fly River turtle, golden coin turtle, yellow-headed box turtle, Volcán Darwin giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra microphyes), Egyptian tortoise, pancake tortoise, Panamanian golden frog, and golden poison dart frog. The building also is home to the zoo’s breeding population of Kihansi spray toads, which the zoo saved from extinction. Other species held include lace monitor, northern caiman lizard, Taylor’s cantil, green anaconda, king cobra, reticulated python, Burmese python, Gila monster, Solomon Islands skink, Gaboon viper, eyelash palm pitviper, giant snake-necked turtle, Chiapas giant musk turtle, marine toad and Solomon Island leaf frog. On March 25, 2011, an Egyptian cobra escaped from its off-show enclosure, during which time the exhibit was closed to the public. Six days later, the animal was found elsewhere in the building. The zoo named the cobra MIA (Missing In Action) and placed it on exhibit.

How was the invasive species introduced to Florida’s Everglades?

The Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) is a native African lizard found along the Nile River in sub-saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal to Egypt [1]. Being an expensive product of the exotic wildlife trade to the United States, this lizard has been a species of interest for being the largest African lizard (can be as long as 18 feet), for exhibition purposes, and research methodology [1]. When it was introduced to the United states in 1990, these species were kept as pets or they were kept in captive breeding facilities. However, with the use of their sharp claws, excellent climbing skills and sharp teeth for tearing, they were able to escape the cages of their confinements and crawl out to make their way into the wild [1]. Owners of the facilities and even pet-owners  may also release these lizards into the wild to fend for themselves if they become difficult to handle by means of difficulty in feeding, regulating, managing and if they become sick and are not valuable enough for the exotic wildlife trading [1]. Natural disasters such as hurricanes that damage the captive bred facilities is another contribution to the overall damage of the facility and release of the species into the Everglades.

How are the Nile Monitor lizards able to thrive in the ecosystem?

As these lizards are native to the peak climatic conditions of sub-Saharan Africa, with similar subtropical climate present in Southern Florida, it has not been difficult for the Nile Monitors to disperse and thrive to its potential. Being semi-aquatic lizards, they have the capability of spending 15 minutes underwater before swimming back to surface for air [1]. The Everglades presence of marshes and water beds have made it easy for the lizards to find habitat in these conditions as well as on dry-temperate land of the grassy patches, on trees and burrowed under soil [1]. Weather surviving harsh winter conditions burrowed underground, fulfilling the needs of their semiaquatic needs by spending time on-land and in-water, the various trees and preys present to keep them in-tact, the Florida Everglades ecosystem has allowed them to establish and take full range on land while continuing to breed and populate, slowly taking over wetland.

What ecological threats do they pose?

The biggest threat that is posed to the Florida Everglades by these non-native reptilian lizards is that they are one of the top apex predators of the food chain with very few regulative predators keeping them intact (other than the Burmese pythons which are able to constrict these lizards during competition for a food source). Using their sneaky tactics, when prey (mostly laid eggs) are present, these lizards are able to make their way quickly to the food source, snatch the egg before it abruptly consumes its contents. Their typical diet consists of prey on-land and underwater, being newly-hatched alligators, eggs of burrowing owls, eggs of wood storks, eggs of turtles, and hugely threatens the brown pelican and the near threatened Diamondback terrapin turtle species as consumption of their eggs has declined their population size [2]. The issue has been consuming much of the native reptile and bird species of the Everglades, leading to the decline of their populations. This itself has edged species such as the Diamondback terrapin in a threatened place as their population size continues to decline as they prey these organisms to possible extinction. With consumption of the eggs of American Alligators, there has been a significant decline in the population of the native alligator species. Thus, before these keystone species go extinct, it is essential that these invasive species are removed from the ecosystem before the potential collapse of the ecosystem from the extinction of the regulatory organisms which keep the ecosystem intact. 

What are current solutions and regulations implemented to prevent further damage from this invasive species?

The following lists some of the regulations that have been put in place for preventing the further establishment of these invasive species which are similar to some of the other non-native reptiles found in the Florida Everglades (as of present, there have not been very much regulations put into place to control the spread of the invasive species):

1. Lacey Act- United States Fish and Wildlife Service [3]

- The Lacey act was amended by the congress to ensure that Individuals who have permission to legally own the Monitor Lizard are not allowed to participate in interstate or continental transport, selling, or trading. With permission from the state law, they are only to be used for exhibition services in sanctuaries, zoological services, education activities, medical or research purposes.

- Having a Nile monitor has been announced illegal in the United States (without special permit). 

- Failure to comply with the regulations will be deemed as a criminal penalty with facing a fine up to $20,000 and a prison sentence up to 5 years.

 2. Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) [3]

- Involvement of early detection of these invasive predators and capturing them before they disperse into the ecosystem, aggregate and populate. Earlier preventative measures (although as of present, it has been difficult to detect the lizards in its early intervention). 

3. Non-permit hunting [3]

-Should be a last resort

-Fish and Wildlife conservation encourages individuals to locate and hunt for the Nile Monitors when located (firearm is allowed)

-Permit or hunting license is not required.

What can I do?

1. If you or someone you know wants to get rid of the exotic pet, there is a website called “Exotic Amnesty days” to get rid of the python with no questions asked.

2. If you have spotted a Nile Monitor, record the location and report this sighting by dialling: 1-888-IVE-GOT-1.

3. Be able to tell apart Florida’s native snakes with the invasive snakes.

4. An app “IveGot1'' has been developed for quick and easy reporting. Available on Apple IOS Appstore and Android’s GooglePlay store. 

-MOD Oshini

Sources: 

Harvey R.G., et al. (2020). University of Florida. Python Factsheet. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/upload/ifaspythonfactsheetsecure.pdf

Florida Fish and Wildlife. (1999). Nile Monitor. Agency Regulatory Plan. Retrieved from  https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/reptiles/monitors/nile-monitor/ 

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