Snakes In Fiji: Species & Why You Don’t Need To Worry!
Fiji is well-known for its stunning scenery and natural views that were formed as a result of volcanic activity millions of years ago. Because of that scenery, and the incredible beaches here, it’s no surprise Fiji is a popular tourist destination! Maybe you’re planning a trip to this island too.
However with Fiji home to a plethora of wildlife and exotic creatures, you might be wondering about snakes…..
Well the reality is Fiji does have snakes, although sightings tend to be rare. Fiji has both land and sea snakes, and both types tend to be harmless to humans.
That said Fiji is also home to several highly venomous species of sea snakes; however, most are not a threat to humans as their mouths are too small to effectively bite us – although it has happened in the past.
Here we will take a closer look at the types of snake that inhabit Fiji, if they are venomous, and whether you should be concerned about your safety or not should you decide to visit this set of islands. We will also discuss the procedure you can take if you or someone you know is bitten by a snake in Fiji.
Read on to gather all of the information you need before your trip!
The Snakes To Expect In Fiji
One of the most common types of land snake that inhabit the Fiji Islands is the Pacific Boa (picture below).
This is a subterranean species of snake that is non-venomous and completely harmless to humans. They are also not aggressive and can often be spotted in trees from afar. (Related: What You Need to Know About Spiders in Fiji).
There is, however, one type of land snake that is venomous. This is known as the Bolo Snake or the Fiji Snake.
These are native to Fiji; however, they are extremely rare and unlikely to be seen in the wild. Even if you were to encounter a Bolo snake, they are non-aggressive so no conflict should arise, and they pose no real threat to humans’ safety.
While most land snakes in Fiji can be considered harmless, it should be noted that sea snakes are prevalent among the coastlines of the islands and that these can be considered potentially dangerous to us.
We will discuss sea snakes in more detail later.
What About Poisonous Snakes?
As mentioned, it is highly unlikely that any land snake will bite or attack you when either visiting or living in Fiji.
Even if you were to experience a snake bite from a land snake, they are generally not poisonous or venomous. Therefore, you can expect to be relatively safe from snake bites when you are walking around any of the islands.
However sea snakes are highly venomous creatures that inhabit the various coastlines of the Fijian islands.
The most common type of sea snake known to Fiji is the Black and White Banded Sea Snake, and that can be found in the shores around the islands and in some lagoons.
Although they are not aggressive at all, these creatures are around 20 times more venomous than their land snake counterparts.
Should You Worry About Sea Snakes?
Given that there are sea snakes in Fiji that are highly poisonous, how much of a threat do they pose to human life?
While we noted previously that some sea snakes are 20 times more venomous than land snakes, you might be pleased to learn that they do not pose any great threat to human life.
The reason for this is that their mouths tend to be too small to adequately bite and infect us.
In general, sea snakes cannot open their mouths wide enough to bite us. However it is still possible, so you should consider this if you are visiting the island.
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