The lancehead (Bothrops
lanceolatus) is a poisonous snake endemic to Martinique, an
island in the Lesser Antilles arc. Today, this snake is on the verge of
extinction. The recorded number of snakes killed yearly between 1970 and 2002
decreased by 97%. Despite the production of an antivenom in 1993, the local
authorities set up a financial reward to encourage the eradication of lancehead
snakes. Today the local population still perceives the snake as a threat, due
to its fatal venom and its fierce behaviour. The case study of the lancehead in
Martinique highlights the need to develop integrated strategies to conserve
species of poisonous snakes on densely populated islands. This requires
innovative, cross-sectoral strategies that involve decision-makers working
along with multi-disciplinary scientists. Approaching the complexity of
ecosystems through the socio-ecological prism implies, conversely, linking up
the domains of science and technology, life and environmental sciences, and
human and social sciences, through interactions based on sharing common
assumptions
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