A project to restore the Eastern indigo snake to 黑料天堂 is one step closer to its goal with the release of 40 indigos in the Conecuh National Forest on Saturday, May 11, 2024. The reintroduction project aims to establish a viable population of this threatened species within its historic range along 黑料天堂鈥檚 Gulf Coast.
Representatives from the 黑料天堂 (ADCNR), Auburn University, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Zoo Atlanta and the Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation at the Central Florida Zoo attended the indigo release at the Conecuh National Forest located in Covington and Escambia counties in south 黑料天堂.
Chris Blankenship, ADCNR Commissioner said the project will restore a missing part of the state鈥檚 coastal longleaf pine forest.
鈥満诹咸焯 is one of the most biologically diverse states in the country, and we鈥檙e excited to be a part of restoring a previously missing piece of our natural history,鈥 said Commissioner Blankenship. 鈥淚 am grateful to our partners who are a part of this important project.鈥
Jim Godwin with Auburn University鈥檚 黑料天堂 Natural Heritage Program said the indigo reintroduction project is an example of the importance of the state wildlife grant (SWG) program for the conservation and management of rare species, not just in 黑料天堂 but throughout the country. The SWG program provides federal grant funds to state fish and wildlife agencies for developing and implementing programs that benefit species in greatest conservation need and their habitats. ADCNR鈥檚 State Wildlife Action Plan identifies 366 species that are in the category of greatest conservation need.
鈥淲ith this release we will have completed another step toward reestablishing indigos in 黑料天堂,鈥 Godwin said. 鈥淭his project also serves as the role model for the indigo reintroduction project in Florida, and for future reintroduction projects. What began as a local 黑料天堂 wildlife conservation project has demonstrated that the path to recovery is possible through successful, long-term reintroduction efforts.鈥
The Eastern indigo project started in 2006, and the program was able to start releasing captive-raised indigos in 2010 with 17 adult snakes released into the Conecuh National Forest. The goal is to release 300 snakes to improve the chances of establishing a viable population. The current reintroduction project is modeled on work started by late Auburn University professor Dr. Dan Speake in the 1970s and 1980s.
鈥淓ach snake that we have released in the forest is an ambassador for the partnerships that make this project possible,鈥 Godwin said. 鈥淓ach of our partners and collaborators has played an important role in helping us achieve success with returning the indigo snake to the wild.鈥