Prior to 2012, Desertas Island land snails had not been seen for 100 years and were assumed to have been wiped out by predators. When two Desertas Island land snail species were rediscovered, conservationists could only find a couple hundred snails throughout their entire habitat.
Although these snails are incredibly tiny, they nonetheless have a vital and unique role to play in their native ecosystem.
Due to their critically endangered status, 60 snails were removed from their wild for an emergency captive breeding program. Invertebrate specialists at the Chester Zoo and Bristol Zoological Society were able to replicate the conditions necessary for the snails to reproduce–the captive population of Desertas Island land snail is now over 1,200.
The long term plan is for some of these captive-bred snails to be reintroduced to their native habitat on Desertas Island. This success story highlights the vital role that experienced animal husbandry specialists have to play in conservation.
Thanks to @inertiaspider for sending this in!