The Balearic Government has exceeded 4,400 captures of invasive snakes in Ibiza and Formentera during the 2025 campaign and has reinforced the control measures with additional staff, more traps and new conservation measures to protect the Pitiusan lizard (Podarcis pityusensis) from one of the main environmental threats currently affecting the islands, according to the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment.
This was announced at a meeting held at the Council of Ibiza between the Directorate-General for the Environment and Forestry Management and representatives from the local councils of Eivissa, Sant Antoni de Portmany, Sant Joan de Labritja, Sant Josep de Sa Talaia and Santa Eulària des Riu, as well as the Council of Ibiza and the Council of Formentera.
The Director-General for the Natural Environment and Forestry Management, Ana Torres, emphasised that this is a progressive ecological emergency specific to island ecosystems, requiring a sustained, coordinated response based on scientific knowledge. During the meeting, the Consortium for the Recovery of the Islands’ Wildlife (Cofib) presented the results of the 2025 campaign, which consolidate the increased efforts made in recent years and, at the same time, highlight the scale of the challenge.
On the island of Ibiza, with 1,930 traps installed, 3,604 snakes were captured, the highest figure recorded since the start of the control programme. Of these, 3,528 were horseshoe snakes, a species that continues to spread rapidly and now occupies a very significant part of the island’s territory. On Formentera, with 505 traps, 893 specimens have been captured, mostly white snakes, which remain established in the La Mola area.
At the same time, isolated specimens of the horseshoe snake have been detected and captured in the vicinity of La Savina harbour, confirming the constant pressure of influx from Ibiza and the need to strengthen prevention measures. One of the most significant changes in the 2025 campaign has been the strategic decision to keep trapping active throughout the year, including the winter months, for the first time since the programme began. This measure has enabled control to be consolidated in key areas and the roll-out of the 2026 campaign to be brought forward.
For this year, the Government anticipates a further increase in operational capacity. The team will comprise 13 people dedicated to snake control in the islands, representing a 44 per cent increase in human resources, and the number of traps will continue to be expanded, with the aim of taking more intensive action against the westward spread of the horseshoe snake.
In addition, the presence will be reinforced in areas of high ecological value and at strategic points along the coastline, particularly those connecting to the islets, where the presence of snakes has already been confirmed in several locations. This poses a critical risk to the Pitiusan lizard, as the islets are home to populations with a high degree of genetic distinctiveness, unique in the world. As outlined during the meeting, the colonisation of these areas by snakes poses a direct threat of extinction to these populations.
In light of this situation, the Government has launched a new conservation strategy combining biosecurity measures, intensive monitoring and direct actions targeting the species. One of the key actions is the deployment of a network of snake-free refuges in Ibiza, designed as safe havens to preserve lizard populations. The first has already been built in Can Marines, and plans are in place to expand this network in the coming months with new strategic locations.
In parallel, an ex situ conservation programme has been launched in collaboration with leading institutions such as Barcelona Zoo, which already maintains several breeding lines of Pitiusan lizards based on genetic criteria. Within this framework, during April 2026, 33 specimens were captured from five particularly vulnerable islets; these will be incorporated into this programme to ensure the preservation of their genetic diversity.
“We are not only taking action to halt the invasion, but also to secure the future of the species, protect its genetic diversity and anticipate risk scenarios,” remarked the Director-General. Furthermore, the Government continues to strengthen biosecurity measures to prevent further snake incursions, particularly those associated with the transport of goods and ornamental plants, one of the main routes of introduction identified.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of public involvement in the fight against invasive species. The Línea Verde app has recorded nearly a thousand reports during 2025, consolidating its role as a key tool for early detection and rapid response to new outbreaks. Finally, all participating authorities agreed on the need to continue strengthening institutional coordination, particularly with local councils and island councils, to ensure an effective and sustained response over time.