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Mangshan Pit Viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis) Fact Sheet: Population & Conservation Status

Mangshan Pit Viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis)

Update in Progress

Dear Readers,

This fact sheet, like a snake, is about to slough its skin. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is working to bring you an updated version of the Mangshan Pit Viper Fact Sheet with new science and conservation information. Thanks for your patience, as we crawl among the treetops (yes, this pit viper climbs very well) to bring you new facts. Please check back soon. SDZWA team members can email questions to library@sdzwa.org.

Population Status

Global population

  • Approximately 460 individuals (based on 2007-2010 data) (Gong et al. 2013)
  • Other estimates from ca. 2010 similarly estimate the population to be about 300-500 individuals (Boyer 2010; Zhou 2012)

Conservation Status

IUCN

  • Endangered (2011 assessment) (Zhou 2012, amended 2022)

CITES

Other (Zhou 2012)

  • Present in the Mangshan Natural Nature Reserve
  • Breeding in managed care has been successful in Germany, China, and the US

San Diego Zoo's conservation efforts (Boyer 2010)

  • Working to establish a breeding program and studbook
  • Helping sponsor a conservation program in China and conducting surveys of critical habitat
  •  

Threats to Survival

(Boyer 2010)

  • Human illegal hunting for food and trade
  • Global climate change
  • Illegal logging
  • Capture for terrarium trade not a primary threat

An Eye-catching, Endangered Species

Face of a Mangshan pit viper

The small range of the Mangshan pit viper makes it vulnerable to extinction.

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

Page Citations

Boyer (2010)

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