A popular Spanish island loved by Brits is currently tackling a giant snake problem as the reptiles become more dominant.
The horseshoe snake, in particular, is a real problem in Ibiza, growing in both numbers and physical size due to a lack of predators.
The species was only introduced in the early 2000s but has already put Ibizan lizards on the brink of extinction, The Olive Press reports.
Biologist Jaume Estarellas said “gigantism” has been found in several species of snake on the island, meaning their average size is larger than those in mainland Spain.
Horseshoe snakes do not have predators hunting them when they’re young adults, and they also have lots of prey to feed on.
This becomes a vicious cycle as they grow bigger by feasting on prey and, due to their massive size, are able to feast on even more prey.
In 2013, a horseshoe snake in Ibiza won the world record for being the largest of its species, measuring a staggering 183cm, the average length being 89cm.
There are currently campaigns to crack down on the invasive species on the island.
In 2024, 499 of them were captured and 280 traps were put down by the Protegim Ses Sargantanes to protect lizards.
Despite these efforts, giant snakes remain a “practically unsolvable” problem, the Institut d’Estudis Eivissencs (IEE) said.
It said the methods adopted last year “have not been sufficiently successful” in containing horseshoe snakes, which remain a dominant species throughout Ibiza.
