Endangered species hatches at Gladys Porter Zoo
In an Aug. 17 news release, the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville announced the hatching of six endangered Mangshan pit vipers. It is now one of only three institutions in the United States to have successfully bred this rare species.
According to the release, the Mangshan pit viper is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and there are only about 500 left in the wild.
Shown are Mangshan vipers in captivity at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville. These snakes were first discovered by scientists in 1990 and are originally from Mangshan Mountain in southern China. They are an endangered breed with fewer than 500 remaining in the wild. ROXANNA MIRANDA/ THE RIDER PHOTOS
Clint Guadiana, curator of reptiles and amphibians at the Gladys Porter Zoo, said the pit vipers shed about three to five times a year depending on how much they eat. Their diet consists of rodents and birds.
Clint Guadiana, curator of reptiles and amphibians, said Mangshan vipers have an estimated life span of 30 years. There are currently 11 vipers at the Gladys Porter Zoo: four adults, one juvenile and six babies. Some of these snakes have the potential to grow up to 10 feet long.
The Mangshan vipers are equipped with venom that they use to capture their prey and defend themselves, according to an Aug. 17 news release from the Gladys Porter Zoo.
In an Aug. 17 news release, the Gladys Porter Zoo announced it had successfully hatched six Mangshan vipers. With this accomplishment, the zoo is now the third institution to successfully breed and hatch this rare species. COURTESY PHOTOS OF GLADYS PORTER ZOO
The viper hatchlings will remain behind the scenes for now, but the parent Mangshan Vipers can be found on display in their herpetarium. COURTESY PHOTOS OF GLADYS PORTER ZOO
