Zoo staff rescue near-extinct snails from remote rock
Just 21 Madeiran land snails were found clinging to a rock on Portugal's Bugio Island, say conservationists.
Zoo conservationists have successfully reintroduced 300 critically endangered Madeiran land snails into their natural habitat on Bugio Island, part of Portugal's Madeira archipelago in the Atlantic. This follows a dedicated breeding program at Chester Zoo.
The initiative began after only 21 of these tiny snails, believed to be the last of their species, were discovered clinging to a rock on the remote island. The Madeira government enlisted Chester Zoo's experts to aid in the conservation effort.
Returning the snails to the wild proved to be a challenging endeavor. Chester Zoo specialists faced treacherous conditions, battling rough seas and scaling cliffs to reach suitable locations. Tamas Papp, assistant team manager for invertebrates at Chester Zoo, described the reintroduction as potentially "the trickiest we've ever done."
Papp explained the difficulties: "We had a short window due to rough weather, and there's no jetty on the island. We had to jump straight into the water, climb out, put helmets and harnesses on, and start scrambling up the cliff face." The team even had to ascend the cliff in the dark to find secure crevices in the rocks where the snails, measuring no more than 8mm, could be safely placed.
"We knew we had one shot to save them," Papp emphasized. "If we missed this chance, that was it: they were gone."
These diminutive snails play a vital ecological role by consuming vegetation and enriching the soil. Their progress will be closely monitored as they acclimate to their wild environment.