Along Brazil’s coast lies Ilha da Queimada Grande, also Snake Island—a place so hazardous that authorities have shut down access to visitors. It’s populated with thousands of golden lancehead vipers, It’s one of the deadliest snake species on Earth, and has been a topic of myths, scientific fascination, and rumors surrounding notable individuals including YouTube phenomenon MrBeast.
33 kilometers off São Paulo’s shore, there is a 43-hectare island occupied by a population of golden lancehead pit vipers (Bothrops insularis). The critically endangered snake occurs nowhere else on our planet, and estimates have ranged from 2,000-4,000 venomous reptiles on the island. The venom from the golden lancehead is powerful enough to kill a human being within a matter of less than one hour, with severe tissue damage around the bite area.
Due to the heightened risk presented by these snakes, Brazil has strictly forbidden tourists from visiting the island. The only people allowed, under strictly controlled circumstances, are government-approved scientists and researchers who go there to examine the species and the unusual ecosystem.
Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, is famous for his crazy stunts and risky contests, with some questioning whether he has attempted what is probably his ultimate survival challenge—visiting Snake Island. That being said, there is not a confirmed report that MrBeast visited the island, as much as there have been several claims on the internet. While MrBeast has also attempted snake challenges before, such as his popular video “Would You Sit In Snakes For $10,000?“, all such challenges have been carried out with safety measures. Similarly, his Amazon Prime Video competition show “Beast Games,” where contestants compete for a private island, does not feature Snake Island but another, privately owned island.
Apart from having a formidable reputation, Snake Island is also ecologically and scientifically relevant. The golden lancehead viper evolved independently, and for this reason, it is a point of interest for herpetologists and conservationists. Researchers handling the species indicate that its venom holds medicinal value, for example, lifesaving drug development.
Golden lanceheads are threatened with illegal animal trade and loss of habitats, and they have to be preserved. Scientific studies on the island are all about understanding behavior, biology, and ecosystem as a whole for its survival.
