Home / Environment / Lost Bermuda Snail Returns: A Conservation Triumph
Lost Bermuda Snail Returns: A Conservation Triumph
29 Jul
Summary
- A rare snail species, thought lost for 40 years, has been successfully reintroduced.
- Thousands bred at Chester Zoo before release into protected Bermuda habitats.
- Six colonies have re-established, crucial for restoring island ecosystems.
The remarkable story of the great Bermuda snail, Poecilozonites bermudensis, has a happy ending. This species, once believed lost for over 40 years, has been brought back from the brink of extinction through dedicated conservation efforts. A small surviving population was rediscovered about ten years ago, hidden away in Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda.
Recognizing the snails' plight, a crucial partnership formed between the Bermuda government, Biolinx Environmental Research, and Chester Zoo. This collaboration led to the breeding of thousands of snails at the zoo. Keepers developed specialized husbandry methods, creating ideal conditions for the snails to multiply and establishing the first-ever conservation breeding guide for the species.
Since 2019, successive generations of these captive-bred snails have been released into protected woodland habitats across Bermuda. Rigorous biosecurity measures have shielded them from invasive predators. A recent population assessment confirms that six colonies have successfully established, a significant achievement hailed on IUCN's 'reverse the red day'.
These snails play a vital role in Bermuda's ecosystems, serving as prey and consuming vegetation. Their reintroduction was meticulously planned, with monitoring described as akin to a 'war game'. Dr. Mark Outerbridge of the Bermuda government noted the astonishing growth from less than 200 snails to over 100,000 released.
Chester Zoo is now applying its expertise to breed another rare species, the lesser Bermuda land snail, continuing its commitment to conserving island biodiversity.
