Description
The Aeculapian Snake (Zamenis longissimus) is one of a number of protected species in the Czech Republic. The “Action Plan for Aeculapian Snake” was prepared in the year 2008. It is a special tool which provides complex knowledge about the species and recommends the necessary protection measures. This project will contribute to targets and measures put forth the Action Plan for the Aeculapian Snake. The main objective of the project is the implementation of the action plan through habitat management and treatment of two research studies – reproduction study and estimate of population size - in the Poohří area, one of the three areas of the species occurrence. The project outcome is increasing of the species habitat quality and improving the knowledge on the species' population. The project outputs will consist of regular maintenance and reconstruction of breeding grounds, maintenance of important habitat elements, restoration and maintenance of small water bodies and promoting the liquidation of non-native predators of snakes. The other outputs are results of two studies. The project will also include a publicity. The target group of the project is primarily a species and nature-conservation authorities. Secondarily, the protection and connected activities will carry out the awareness-raising in the general public via education.
Summary of project results
The project sought to implement the measures put forth in the Action Plan for the Aeculapian Snake (Zamenis longissimus), which was prepared in 2008. In line with this, the project is an important part of meeting the targets set in the state environmental policy of the Czech Republic for 2012-2020. The primary objective was to implement the action plan by habitat management and treatment of two research studies – reproduction study and estimate of population size - in the Poohří area, one of the three areas of the species occurrence. The project outcome was increasing species habitat quality and improving knowledge on species' population. The project outputs were management of habitats by regular maintenance and reconstruction of breeding grounds, taking care of important habitat elements, restoration and maintenance of small water bodies and promoting the liquidation of non-native predators of snakes. During 2015 about 130 animals were caught and individually marked. The same year, we also installed in selected breeding grounds dataloggers measuring temperature every 90 minutes. In the breeding grounds were found after incubation period of approximately 160 residues of egg packaging Aesculapian snake, which proves successful reproduction of the species. Results: 6 totally reconstructed egg-laying sites for the Aesculapian Snake 12 managed egg-laying sites for the Aesculapian Snake 4 celaned and restored dra-stone walls 4 new small water bodies (2 of them are fenced) 130 caught and individually marked exemplars of the Aesculapian Snake 12 egg-laying sites monitored by data loggers to determine temperature and humidity conditions inside them 160 remnants of egg shells wound inside egg-laying sited 50 biotopes monitored according to Action Plan methodology Care of the hatchery (maintenance or reconstruction) is a crucial activity to support the reproduction of the Aeculapian Snake in Poohri. Wall care has greatly contributed to increasing shelter offerings for this critically endangered species. Population estimation and reproductive research have brought new insights into optimization of the rescue program. The monitoring of the biotopes allows the evaluation of population development over the longer term.
Summary of bilateral results