The year 2025 is the 42nd year of the 60-year cycle, known as the Year of the Snake (乙巳年). Since 'Eul' signifies the color blue among colors, it is dubbed the Year of the Blue Snake. Although the name has a nice ring to it, people are still not fond of snakes. Their appearance, slithering without legs, is creepy, and their venom is a serious concern.
Scientists have set out to rescue the snakes, which are generally disliked by all. Their aim is to protect the endangered snakes and maintain the balance of the ecosystem. Snakes prey on fish and rodents while also serving as prey for large birds and mammals. Being positioned in the middle of the food chain, the disappearance of snakes would significantly impact the entire ecosystem. The occasional news of snakes appearing in urban areas indicates the collapse of forest ecosystems.
The National Institute of Ecology's Endangered Species Restoration Center is further enhancing its rescue activities for the Vivari snake in Jeju Island, coinciding with the Year of the Snake in 2025. Yoo Jung-woo, a former researcher at the Endangered Species Restoration Center, noted, "We plan to collect feces from the Vivari snakes captured in the wild to study their food sources and attach small transmitters to them for spatial utilization research before releasing them back into the wild."
In South Korea, 11 species of snakes inhabit the area. Four species, including the European adder and the Korean rat snake, are classified as venomous, while the others are non-venomous. A few species of snakes are facing the threat of extinction. The Korean python, which can grow up to 2 meters long, is currently designated as an endangered wildlife species, making it difficult for the general public to encounter one in the wild, regardless of its size. The Vivari snake, which has an unfamiliar name, is in a similar situation.
The Vivari snake is mainly found in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Malaysia. In Korea, it was first discovered near Songpanak in Hallasan Mountain in 1981. It has long black stripes stretching from the crown to the back of the neck, resembling a maiden with a topknot, which led to its name "Vivari," derived from Jeju dialect.
In 2019, the National Institute of Ecology launched the development of techniques for breeding endangered species and securing original species to address the ecological imbalance caused by species extinction. The Vivari snake was included in this initiative. Having been noticeable for over 30 years, it has now been pushed toward extinction. The Ministry of Environment designated the Vivari snake as a first-class endangered wildlife species in 2012.
The Vivari snake has only been found in the mid-mountain area of Jeju Island. Yoo Jung-woo, a former researcher, explained, "The Vivari snake is known to inhabit areas below 600 meters on Jeju Island where grasslands and shrub forests intermingle, and it primarily preys on small reptiles like the Korean rat snake and lizards, as well as the young of the continent's rat snake." However, as development has encroached upon the mid-mountain area of Jeju Island, the population of Vivari snakes has plummeted. The development of habitats has eliminated necessary shelters and food for the Vivari snake.
The Endangered Species Restoration Center of the National Institute of Ecology has employed local researchers in Jeju to secure wild Vivari snakes. The Vivari snake typically mates from April to May and lays eggs from June to August. Between April and October, when the Vivari snake is active, the aim is to directly secure Vivari snakes in their natural state in Jeju's grasslands and investigate the main habitat environment, as well as the laying and hatching period, to gain a precise understanding of the Vivari snake's ecology.
After four rounds of local investigations in Jeju, the local researcher managed to capture a Vivari snake and brought it to the Endangered Species Restoration Center. Yoo noted, "We have conducted studies and surveys to assess the locations where Vivari snakes appear and their population estimates, and we are working to determine the habitat preferences and critical survival factors for the Vivari snake."
They have also conducted research on predicting potential habitats for the Vivari snake compared to those in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Taiwan and Hong Kong share similar island geography and subtropical climate conditions with Jeju Island. With a higher population of Vivari snakes, it is more suitable for researching the Vivari snake's ecology. The National Institute of Ecology created a model to locate potential habitats by analyzing the emergence points of Vivari snakes in Taiwan and Hong Kong and applying that to Jeju Island.
As a result of this analysis, the Vivari snake was mainly distributed in areas with an average elevation of 384 meters. The average temperature of the habitat was 20 degrees Celsius, with a minimum of 6 degrees and a maximum of 33 degrees. The research team stated, "Based on the environmental characteristic values of the locations where Vivari snakes appeared, we predicted that they could inhabit areas in Jeju, the southern coast, the western coast, and some parts of inland North Gyeongsang Province, and that areas transitioning from farmland to forests were identified as potential habitats."
The National Institute of Ecology initially decided to proceed with the Vivari snake restoration project until 2027. However, field researchers have indicated significant challenges in achieving results due to lack of support.
Yoo stated, "Restoration research requires long-term investigations and precise analyses to understand the ecological characteristics of the species, but financial support for conducting such activities is limited, and there is a shortage of specialized personnel. Research utilizing advanced technologies, such as wireless tracking methods, and habitat restoration projects are high in expense and time-consuming, so stable and continuous budget support is essential."
The conflict between restoring endangered species and development is also an issue. Rapid development has been ongoing in Jeju Island, including the construction of the second airport. However, when the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport conducted a strategic environmental impact assessment for the second airport in Jeju in 2019, a Vivari snake was discovered at the planned construction site. If one were to say to stop development for the sake of restoring the snakes, conflicts would inevitably arise.
Nonetheless, scientists believe that by protecting endangered species, the overall ecosystem can be maintained, ultimately benefiting Jeju Island in the long term. Yoo emphasized, "The goal of the Vivari snake restoration is not merely to increase the population but to move beyond being an endangered species and make Jeju's ecosystem healthier and more sustainable."
He stated, "As a mid-level consumer in the food chain, the Vivari snake maintains the balance between upper predators, such as birds and carnivorous mammals, and lower organisms, like small amphibians and insects. Restoring the Vivari snake can help suppress the excessive reproduction of specific species, maintain biodiversity, and preserve healthy habitats."