Conservationists are celebrating a milestone in recovering two critically endangered snail species. Over 1,300 pea-sized snails were bred in captivity island, bringing the species back to the wild after being believed extinct for a century.
The tiny mollusks, native to the Desertas Islands, were thought to have been eaten to extinction by invasion predators such as rats, mice, and goats. However, a series of conservation expeditions between 2012 and 2017 discovered a small population of just 200 surviving individuals on the island of Deserta Granade.
The Desertas Island snails were collected and brought into captivity, where they were bred in zoos in the UK and France, including Chester Zoo. The zoo’s conservation science team created a miniature habitat for the snails, with the right food, vegetation, and conditions.
After breeding over 1,300 snail offspring, the zoo transported them back to the wild for release on the island of Bugio, a nature reserve where invasive species have been eradicated. The snails were marked with identification dots using non-toxic pens and nail varnish to track their progress.
Gerardo Garcia from Chester Zoo said, “If it goes as well as we hope, more snails will follow them next spring.” This project’s success is a testament to the power of conservation efforts.
The reintroduction of the Desertas Island Snails is a milestone in their recovery plan. The project involved a team of conservationists from Chester Zoo, the Madeira Natural Park, and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests.
Snails play a crucial role in the ecosystem, helping to break down organic matter and bring nutrients to the soil. Heather Prince from Chester Zoo explained, “They help plants grow. All of that depends on the little guys—the insects and the snails that so often get overlooked.”
