Conservationists from Chester Zoo have successfully bred 300 Madeiran land snails and returned them to their native wild habitat. The team traveled to Bugio Island, part of the Madeira archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, after being tasked by the Madeiran government to assist in the species' conservation.
Rescue Mission
Upon arrival, experts found only 21 of the tiny snails clinging to a rock face on the remote island. These individuals were believed to be the last of their kind. The conservationists faced treacherous conditions, climbing cliffs in the dark and scrambling from the water up rock faces to reach the snails.
"We knew we had one shot to save them," said Tamas Papp, assistant team manager for invertebrates at Chester Zoo. "If we missed this chance, that was it: they were gone."
The conservationists located small cracks in the rocks where the snails could be safely released, ensuring their reintroduction into the wild. The effort marks a significant step in preventing the extinction of the Madeiran land snail.
