Remote and isolated, home to many species of extremely venomous snakes, that’s what people think of Gorgona, a small island in Colombia.

The island is a small volcanic rock rising above the Pacific Ocean, located about 34km off the coast of Colombia.

One side covered by jungle, surrounded by shark sea, Gorgona Island is also a haven for countless deadly animals. For old-timers, this place was a real nightmare.

In the 1500s, the first explorers claimed the island of Gorgona to Spain. But they paid a heavy price. More than half of the crew could not succumb to the deadly reptile lurking in the jungle – venomous snakes.

Originally, the island was named San Felipe. It was later renamed after the Gorgons – creatures in Greek mythology with snake hair due to the increase in the number of these reptiles during the Spanish colonial period. Since then, this place has made up the island’s intense and dark history.

In 1959, Colombia made it illegal for individuals to own islands in the country. A security prison was built on the island, where dangerous prisoners are kept. It’s the country’s version of Alcatraz prison. Since then, Gorgona has specialized in taking on Colombia’s most notorious criminals. Deaths behind prison walls have become a regular occurrence.

For 25 years, this was the “living hell” of 2,500 inmates. The thick concrete walls of the prison are not enough to prevent prisoners from escaping, the outer jungle fence is really a “shield” of death.

Experts estimate that there are about 18 species of snakes living on the island, from the slender but agile sipo snake to the large and powerful python. Among these are many extremely poisonous species with deadly venom.

According to the document left, when on the island, the prisoner’s identity was stripped. They were called by numbers with living conditions no different from hell. They are almost unable to escape because the surrounding is both a sea of sharks and a jungle full of snakes. During the prison’s operation, 25 escapes occurred, but only 3 were successful.

After more than two decades of operation, the prison on the island closed in 1984. This is when the last prisoners left the island. Thirty years later, the island’s natural inhabitants “occupy” the space for themselves. There are bats hanging like light bulbs that once lighted prison corridors, bees building nests, rats roaming freely horizontally and vertically, to Central American white hat monkeys.

In the golden age, humans were behind bars, and wild animals roamed freely. The majestic walls have now become a “playground” for monkeys.

To date, the entire island and surrounding waters have become national parks. Amidst the ruins of the old prison, many rare animals live and are strictly protected, including the Helmeted iguana, the marble poison frog – a species threatened by habitat loss.

In addition, the island is also famous for its diverse marine ecosystem, including whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, Moray eels… From June to October every year, visitors from all over the world can come and watch. Humpback whales give birth.

There is currently a naval station on the island to ensure visitors do not adversely affect the ecosystem and protect their own lives. Visitors must comply with the curfew time, are required to wear rubber shoes to protect the island ecosystem. This is also a way to limit their ability to be attacked by creatures on the island.

The entrance to the “notorious” prison for a time no longer had the scene of “no inside, no foreign entry”. The Guardian revealed that the reason the prison was closed was due to opposition from human rights organizations, as well as scientists who wanted to protect the island’s ecosystem.