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Extinct Snail Returns from the Brink
21 Dec
Summary
- A critically endangered snail, once thought extinct, has been reintroduced.
- The Campbell's keeled glass-snail was rediscovered on Norfolk Island.
- Captive breeding and release efforts aim to save the species.
A critically endangered species, the Campbell's keeled glass-snail, has been reintroduced to Norfolk Island, marking a significant conservation success. The mollusc, officially listed as extinct in 1996, was rediscovered in 2020 by a citizen scientist, prompting an ambitious plan to save it.
Following a successful captive breeding program at Taronga Zoo, which began in 2021 with 46 snails, a population of over 800 was eventually established. In June, hundreds of these snails were transported back to Norfolk Island to be released into a carefully chosen habitat.
Despite initial challenges, including a mould outbreak that caused significant casualties among the released snails, the conservation team remains hopeful. Ongoing monitoring by park rangers and the discovery of new snail babies suggest the reintroduced population is beginning to establish itself, with plans for further reintroductions in 2026.
