The breeding season for the Hungarian meadow vipers at the Viper Centre has once again come to a successful end. A total of 354 baby vipers were born in July and August, including 164 males and 190 females.
The newborn snakes were born to 31 females, with an average litter size of 11, which is slightly lower than the previous four-year average but higher than the average for the past 22 years. The reason for this is clear: 14 of the females were giving birth for the first time. First-time births typically result in smaller litter sizes – these four-year-old females gave birth to an average of 8 snakes. The older females, with an average age of 7 years, produced an impressive average litter size of 14.8. Two animals gave birth to particularly large litters: a 2017-born female and a 2019-born female both gave birth to 21 offspring.
Another milestone was reached in 2025 when the 5,800th Hungarian meadow viper was born in the breeding programme.
This year’s newborn snakes weighed an average of 2.5 grams and measured 13.9 centimetres in length.
Hungarian meadow vipers shed their skin immediately after birth and then begin to feed by themselves. Their first prey is tiny domestic crickets, provided by the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, a partner of the project.
Some of the newborn animals are placed in indoor terrariums individually, where they spend the entire winter active and are fed regularly. The others live in outdoor terrariums and, as the cold weather approaches, they retreat into artificial burrows for hibernation, just as they would in the wild.
The Hungarian meadow viper is one of the most iconic, yet critically endangered, species in the Carpathian Basin. The decline of its habitats in the 20th century is why captive breeding and reintroduction are now among the most important tools for species conservation. More than 350 young vipers born in 2025 will ensure that reintroductions can continue in the coming years to habitats maintained and protected by national parks.
