Fourteen Madagascar tree boas (Sanzinia madagascariensis) have been born at Safari Park Dvůr Králové, marking only the second successful reproduction of the species in the zoo’s history. The young snakes, born on 9 August, are around 30 centimetres long and display striking shades of red, orange and yellow that contrast sharply with the appearance of the adults.
The birth followed a visible change in the mother’s colouration. “The female was moss green, but then she became almost black,” reptile keeper Martin Smrček explained. While the transformation might appear alarming to an unfamiliar observer, for the zoo’s team it was a clear indication that birth was approaching.
The event is particularly significant because successful reproduction of the species remains relatively uncommon in zoological institutions. According to Safari Park, around 30 Madagascar tree boas were born over the past 12 months in zoos worldwide included in the ZIMS database.
Years of work to find the right conditions
Reaching this second successful birth required the reptile team to refine its management methods over several years.
Temperatures in the habitat fluctuate considerably with the seasons, dropping to around 17–18°C during winter. The male is periodically introduced to the females before being returned to his own space beneath the main habitat.
The zoo says that an older article by a Dutch reptile expert also contributed to developing the approach eventually adopted by the team. The second successful reproduction is now seen as an indication that the conditions and methods established at Dvůr Králové are working.
The youngsters are currently being kept behind the scenes, where the keepers are focusing on getting them to feed regularly before they can be introduced to a public habitat.
Born alive in a thin membrane
Madagascar tree boas are ovoviviparous: the young develop inside the female rather than being laid externally as shelled eggs. Each developing snake is surrounded by a thin membrane before being born.
The juveniles look markedly different from the adults. At around 30 centimetres long, they display vivid colours ranging from deep red to orange and yellow — a fiery appearance that will change as they grow.
Safari Park Dvůr Králové has kept the nominate subspecies of the Madagascar tree boa since 2019. Visitors can see the adults in an environment designed to recreate the Makay Massif of Madagascar, created as part of the transformation of the zoo’s reptile facilities.
The new generation remains out of public view for now, while the reptile team monitors the fourteen young snakes during their first stage of development.
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