More than 1,300 critically endangered Desertas Island land snails, bred at Chester Zoo and other facilities, have been released on Bugio Island, part of the Ilhas Desertas near Madeira, Portugal, as part of a sweeping conservation effort aimed at saving the species from extinction.
These tiny, pea-sized molluscs had not been sighted for over 100 years and were previously believed to be extinct. The reintroduction marks a monumental step forward for conservationists who have worked tirelessly since rediscovering two surviving species on the rocky cliffs of Deserta Grande Island during expeditions from 2012 to 2017.
The snails were initially taken from the wild after conservation teams identified just 200 remaining individuals. These precious survivors were brought to various zoos across the United Kingdom and France, including Chester Zoo, where they were slowly bred under carefully controlled conditions. According to Gerardo Garcia, Chester Zoo's Head of Ectotherms, the reintroduction is “a major step in a species recovery plan.”
Upon their release, the 1,329 snails were marked with non-toxic identification dots to facilitate tracking. Dinarte Teixeira, a conservation biologist at Madeira's Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests, explained, “This will allow us to spot them and track where they disperse to, how much they grow, how many survive, and how well they adapt to their new environment.”
The snails' native habitat had been decimated by invasive species, including rats, mice, and goats, which were introduced by humans and posed significant threats to their survival. With the successful eradication of these invasive animals on Bugio Island, the conditions have become conducive for the snails to thrive.
Heather Prince, also from Chester Zoo, emphasized the ecological importance of these tiny creatures: “These snails are such an important part of the natural habitat on the islands they come from.” They serve not only as decomposers but also help promote soil health, contributing to the overall ecosystem.
Experts are closely monitoring the snails' progress, hoping for positive outcomes for this beleaguered species. Teixeira expressed hope for the snails' future, stating, “We’ll be monitoring the snails we’ve released incredibly closely over the coming weeks and months. The ultimate aim is for the snails to thrive without human intervention.”
Plans to bolster the population are already underway, with more releases anticipated next spring, depending on the success of this initial group. Garcia noted, “If it goes as well as we hope, more snails will follow them next spring.”
This collaborative reintroduction exemplifies international cooperation to save critically endangered species, as echoed by Éric Bairrão Ruivo from Beauval Nature who noted, “This first reintroduction of snails to the Desertas Islands is a perfect example of the integrated 'One Plan Approach' promoted by the IUCN.”
By utilizing both in situ (natural habitat conservation) and ex situ (zoo conservation) strategies, the efforts undertaken reflect significant strides toward preserving biodiversity and echo the commitment of conservationists across Europe to restore what some feared would be lost forever.
This historic event is not only about saving the Desertas Island land snails; it sets the stage for future conservation efforts, proving the potential for recovery for species on the brink of extinction.
