Vipers from Hungary

[Ricardo]

Hi guys,

Today I had a great experience. We vent to a field-work with the university, and got a unique chance to handle some endemic vipers. (Vipera ursinii rakosiensis). This species extremly endangered. Currently the captive breed population is bigger than the wild living pop. In 2-3 years, the firs adults gonna be reintroduced to their rehabilitated, original habitat! (EU LIFE NATURE programme).

for more info about the species see : http://www.rakosivipera.hu/en/

Some pictures i shot today:

 

[SS4Luck]

those things look so cool! are they venemous?

 

[kinyonga]

Awesome!
Its interesting that their bite isn't very bad.

Here's some info on them....
http://www.rakosivipera.hu/en/hungarian-meadow-viper-conservation-centre/
http://www.rakosivipera.hu/en/hungarian-meadow-viper/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...d28ec02c690bd0560275918467f406db&searchtype=a

 

[ChaoticNightsReptile]

So tiny and adorable

 

[Ricardo]

Yes, they are venomous, but it is as strong as a vasp's or a hornet's venom or so. According to the statiscics in Hungary more people dies in hornet bites than any other venomous bites. And these vipers are all in captivity at the moment, so there is actually no chance to meet them in the wild!
The breading station is in the middle of the national park, so nobody should enter there without permission and without guidance!!!

 

[jessica]

That is really cool!

So they have a breeding station in the park because they plan to reintroduce these guys into the wild?