Medallion Hotel

Jamaica: that exotic tropical island paradise in the middle of the Caribbean Sea and home to the Jamaican Boa. The nation is credited with reggae music, breadfruit, scotchies and Bob Marley. We don't often think of Jamaica as being home to such large reptiles as those belonging to the boa family. Usually we think of boas residing in places like Africa or Australia, even the Amazon. Never Jamaica, that land of a thousand beaches, friendly locals, soulful music and jerk chicken.

The Jamaican Boa is mostly black with delicate yellow stripes along the top of the midsection. The dark colouring is ideal for absorbing as much warmth from the sun as possible, while the yellow markings provide camouflage much like the undergrowth of the forest. This species of boa grows up to six and a half feet, but has been recorded at more than eight feet long.

The Jamaican Boa is part of the Boinae subfamily of boas, which means it is a non-venomous constricting snake. Snakes in general are not social beings. They prefer the quiet safety of solitude in warm little haunts under the sun. The Jamaican Boa is no different; it doesn't seek out human companionship. In fact the habitat for this species is a moist limestone forest, making areas deep in the Jamaican jungle ideal for a quiet existence.

Unfortunately, deforestation due to development has threatened the Jamaican Boa. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has placed the species on its Red List with a designation of "Vulnerable". The criterion for this classification includes finding evidence indicating a "population decline of 20% is expected" within the next ten years or three generations. The main factor for determining such a qualification is the presence of a decline in the volume and quality of habitat. Sadly, the decreasing area of ideal occupancy means the Jamaican Boa is forced into human populated places where it is killed or captured.

The Jamaican government, international conservation organizations (including the IUCN) and local naturalists are all working hard to instill protective measures. For example, the Jamaican Boa has been categorized as 'Protected' under the Wild Life protection act since 1945, and therefore cannot be hunted in the wild. Since 1996 it has been illegal to hunt the Jamaican Boa on forest reserves as well.

Reptiles, and especially snakes, may not be the most beloved creature on earth. Yet they do serve a specific purpose in the circle of life. Once they are removed from that cycle, our world will become overrun with thousands, even millions, of other pests. When visiting Jamaica, respect the natural environment and appreciate the role of every organism no matter how unattractive or unappealing it may be.