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South China Morning Post

Spark Study Buddy (Challenger): Climate change may increase human-snake contact

Content provided by British Council [1] Last year was the warmest on record so far. According to the European Copernicus climate service, in 2024, the average global temperature was 1.6 degrees Celsius (34.9 degrees Fahrenheit) above the pre-industrial average. The more the world warms, the worse the impacts of climate change will become. Wildlife will be affected by rising temperatures – and this includes snakes. [2] Snakes are reptiles, meaning their body temperature changes according to the environment. It can change daily and seasonally, said Timothy Bonebrake. He is an associate professor at the School of Biological Sciences and Division of Ecology & Biodiversity at the University of Hong Kong. [3] Humans, on the other hand, maintain a steady body temperature of around 37 degrees Celsius. 'Snakes rely on temperature to regulate their behaviour and how effective they are in capturing prey and escaping predators themselves,' said Bonebrake. Snakes are mesopredators, meaning they are both predator and prey. They represent an important part of many ecosystems, he added. [4] Climate change is expected to impact how snakes share space with people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This is because snakes will change their movements as temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more common. 'They will become more or less abundant and change their activity patterns. Humans will change farming practices, and there will be greater pressure to migrate or be displaced,' WHO said. [5] As a result, human contact with snakes is likely to increase in some areas. This may lead to a higher risk of snakebites, especially among people who are not used to being around them. [6] Hong Kong has about 53 species of snakes. According to Bonebrake, this is likely due to successful conservation efforts over time. He added that about 40 per cent of Hong Kong's land is designated as country parks, which helps support its biodiversity. [7] Bonebrake said that as more people move to towns and cities, the environment will become less suitable for snakes. 'We've conducted analyses of human-snake conflict in Hong Kong and found that urbanisation is associated with a reduced number of incidents for all species except the bamboo pit viper and greater green snake,' he said. 'So yes, Hong Kong is home to an impressive diversity of snakes, for which we should be proud. But we need to protect the habitat of these animals.' Source: South China Morning Post, January 15 Questions 1. What does paragraph 1 state about the relationship between global warming and the impacts of climate change? 2. According to paragraph 2, what factors affect the internal body temperatures of reptiles? 3. According to paragraph 3, mesopredators … A. hunt and are hunted by other animals. B. hunt at dawn and at night. C. eat mostly fruit and vegetables. D. only eat other animals of the same species. 4. How many species of snakes can be found in Hong Kong, according to paragraph 6? 5. What does the term 'incidents' in paragraph 7 refer to? 6. Circle the correct answers. (5 marks) Rising temperatures (i) (affect / effect) snakes' body temperature and behaviour. This has an (ii) (affect / effect) on their behaviour and ability to survive. Climate change also (iii) (affects / effects) how they interact with humans as they change their movement and activity patterns. This will likely lead to an increase in human-snake contact and potential conflict, especially in areas where human and snake populations overlap. Effective conservation measures have had a positive (iv) (affect / effect) on snake diversity in Hong Kong, and continued habitat protection will be crucial to mitigate the negative (v) (affects / effects) of climate change and urbanisation. As climate change intensifies, snakes will become more prevalent in some areas, highlighting the need for habitat protection and awareness of potential risks. Photo: Shutterstock Answers 1. The more the world warms, the worse the impacts of climate change will become. 2. their surrounding environment / the temperature of their surrounding environment 3. A 4. 53 5. encounters between humans and snakes (accept all similar answers) 6. (i) affect; (ii) effect; (iii) affects; (iv) effect; (v) effects