It sounds like an adventure from the 18th century, but it is a story of modern natural sciences. In 2009, a small team of researchers travelled through a remote patch of montane rainforest in Tanzania and unexpectedly discovered a new species. Matilda’s Horned Viper was named after the daughter of one of the researchers because the 7-year old girl was fascinated by and helped to take care of the first individual they brought home to the research centre (WCS). As of now, this black-and-yellow reptile with horns is the “newest” snake in the world and has not been discovered in any other places than the forest patch it was originally found (IUCN). 

It is exciting to find such a rare species, but it also comes along with a big responsibility. The small home range of Matilda’s Horned Viper is under threat from deforestation for agriculture and unsustainable wood collection (IUCN). At the same time, illegal trade and trophy hunting is a threat that is particularly problematic in the case of such rare species. Therefore, the team of scientists who discovered the viper in 2009 kept the exact location of the snake a secret. Furthermore, the Wildlife Conservation Society in Tanzania has started a breeding program with 10 snakes. They gave the first off-spring away for free, to encourage other people to engage in breeding. This will hopefully keep the market price of this critically endangered animal down and discourage illegal trade, while at the same time increase the number of living individuals of Matilda’s Horned Viper.  

Write up by Charlotte Walter

IUCN, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/44980158/44980163
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Tanzania Program, https://tanzania.wcs.org/Species/Matildas-Horned-Viper.aspx