STENEPA: Red-bellied racer population assessment

Datum & tijd: 1-2-2025 - 1-2-2026

The red-bellied racer (Alsophis rufiventris) was historically found only on the islands of St. Kitt’s & Nevis, Saba, and St. Eustatius in the Lesser Antilles. Believed extinct on St Kitts’ & Nevis since the start of the 20th century, likely due to the introduction of the invasive small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) and human persecution. 

The most recent IUCN red list assessment, in 2015, listed A. rufiventris populations as stable, but surveys conducted on Statia in 2011, 2018, and 2019 showed a dramatic decline in the latter two years (Madden et al 2021); the occurrence of two major hurricanes in 2017 (Irma and Maria) is the probable proximate cause for this, but as for other species on Statia (e.g. the bridled quail-dove, Geotrygon mystacea) continuing and intensifying habitat degradation (by overgrazing of uncontrolled livestock), habitat fragmentation, and invasive species (eg. cats, rats) are likely the ultimate cause of the inability of the snake to recover after stochastic events such as hurricanes. 

STENAPA is looking for an intern to carry out surveys based on the 2021 study, in order to monitor our land restoration efforts in the Quill national park, reforestation sites, and potential future land restoration sites in Boven national park. 

Organisation: STENEPA (https://statiapark.org/)
Contact: volunteer@statiapark.org
Location: Sint Eustatius
Period: Anytime
Requirements: The intern will need to be extremely physically fit, and able to perform in a tropical climate (ranging from temperatures in the 30°Cs and intense sun, to torrential rain). They should be able to display initiative and the ability to work alone, although working within the team on some general National Parks tasks will also be required. Although Statia is part of the Dutch Caribbean, it is culturally very different from mainland Netherlands and interns must be sensitive to this. Preferably, interns will have experience carrying out reptile and/or small animal surveys (HBO/MASTER).