Mammals
Birds
Amphibians
Reptiles
The Saint Lucia racer is the rarest snake in the world
After being wiped out from mainland Saint Lucia by the invasive Indian mongoose, the Saint Lucia racer was thought to be extinct with no documented sightings since the 1800s. In 1973, a single Saint Lucia racer was found on Maria Major, a small island just 1km from the coast of Saint Lucia. The snake then became a protected species under the Saint Lucia Wildlife Protection Act and Maria Major was declared a nature reserve to protect its unique wildlife. Durrell began their work with the Saint Lucia racer in the 1990s, when two snakes were captured during a reptile survey of the island. Sightings of the snake are still very rare, but the presence of juvenile snakes on the island gives hope for the species.
Animal facts
Key facts about the Saint Lucia racer
I’m found in Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia racers are only found on the offshore island of Maria Major
I was almost wiped out by invasive predators
The Indian mongoose wiped out the racer from mainland Saint Lucia
I’m the rarest snake in the world
Rare sightings and evidence from island surveys, means the racer is estimated to have critically low population numbers
<50
estimated wild population
1m
maximum length
1
protected habitat
Our conservation work
What we're doing to help Saint Lucia racers
Establishing a captive breeding facility
The estimated wild population of the Saint Lucia racer is fewer than 50 individuals. A captive breeding facility will help to safeguard the racer’s future.
Population surveys and monitoring
We monitor the Saint Lucia racer's habitat to better understand their ecology and behaviours. Where possible, we also survey any individuals found in the wild.
Protecting offshore islands
Keeping invasive species, such as rats and mongoose, away from Saint Lucia's precious offshore islands is vital in helping these key native species survive.
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