We really never had much of a discussion on this, but I just had a member of another forum post these today and it really thrust it in my face how bad the situation is.
The rarest reptile alive is a species of garter snake that is so close to extinction that it's future is very grim, and the US government combined with the state of California are compounding the situation making it worse.
San Francisco Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) is marked as an endangered species making it a felony to gather, breed export or otherwise, any specimens to perpetuate the species at least in captivity.
the city was built on the only habitat on the planet and only a small parcel of land reserved for them to occupy.
Some years ago a single pair was shipped zoo to zoo from the US to Holland and the European specimens have been bred and dispersed all over Europe.
Today the animals on display at the San Francisco zoo originated from the European gene pool
The genes are weakening with every litter produced as no fresh blood has been allowed for a very long time. all animals in captive collections originated from this same pair of snakes.
both of these were from the same clutch of snakes and should give you a decent idea of this species future if the government does not make some changes and at least allow private individuals to keep this species alive.
And the habitat is constantly threatened by runoff and pollution.
Special thanks to Fons of kousebandslangen.nl for providing these shocking photos.
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