Snakes declining at alarming rate, say scientists

Snakes declining at alarming rate, say scientists
Study suspects sharp reduction in snake numbers in a variety of habitats in five countries is caused by habitat loss and prey

Juliette Jowit and Ashleigh Searle
The Guardian, Wednesday 9 June 2010

The widespread disappearance of snakes will be one impact of climate change that some people may find it hard to regret. But as vital predators in sensitive habitats such as rice fields, their decline will have wider ecological consequence, say scientists.

The first major study of the problem, published today, will also be seen as another powerful sign of the worldwide destruction of the natural world, which is causing growing concern about the loss of vital services from rainfall to medicines.

Scientists in five countries across three continents report they found "alarming" declines in snake numbers after monitoring 17 populations in a variety of habitats – something they believe could be part of a global phenomenon.

The paper reports 11 of the population groups "declined sharply", while five remained stable, and one showed a very weak sign of increase. Many of the researchers in the UK, France, Italy, Nigeria and Australia also found evidence of "population crashes" – a sudden decline followed by no sign of recovery – a trend which would make the survivors more vulnerable to being wiped out by further pressures.

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/09/scientists-alarm-snakes

...the ones not working for BP, Goldman-Sachs, etc.

global warming, deforestation, etc?

Never mind