Bermuda's Smallest Resident Found Thriving After Decade-Long Conservation Effort
A tiny but resilient resident of the island nation of Bermuda has been found thriving once again after a decade-long conservation effort. The greater Bermuda snail, which was feared extinct just over a decade ago, has made an astonishing recovery thanks to the tireless work of conservation scientists.
The journey began in 2014 when a remnant population of the snails was discovered hiding away in a damp alleyway in Hamilton, the island's capital city. Conservationists were quick to sound the alarm, realizing that this small group of snails might be all that remained of a once-thriving species. But thanks to international collaboration and cutting-edge breeding techniques at Chester zoo, more than 100,000 snails have been bred and released back into the wild.
According to Tamás Papp, invertebrates assistant team manager at Chester zoo, this achievement is a testament to the power of collaborative conservation efforts. "It's every conservationist's dream to help save a whole species," he said. "This scientific confirmation that we've saved them is something everyone involved will carry in their heart."
The snails' recovery has been hailed as a major success by scientists and conservationists alike. The introduction of predatory "wolf snails" and carnivorous flatworms had decimated the native population, but thanks to biosecurity measures shielding the species from invasive predators, the snails have now established thriving populations in six protected areas.
Dr Mark Outerbridge, an ecologist for the government of Bermuda, described it as "extremely gratifying" to see these tiny creatures back in their natural habitat. "It is remarkable to think we only began with less than 200 snails and have now released over 100,000," he said.
The restoration of the greater Bermuda snail has also highlighted the importance of biodiversity conservation. Dr Kristiina Ovaska of Biolinx Environmental Research noted that the snails function as both prey for larger animals and consumers of live and decaying vegetation, making them a vital component of their ecosystem.
As the conservation team now focuses on breeding a second rare species of snail, the recovery story of the greater Bermuda snail serves as a shining example of what can be achieved through collaborative conservation efforts.
A tiny but resilient resident of the island nation of Bermuda has been found thriving once again after a decade-long conservation effort. The greater Bermuda snail, which was feared extinct just over a decade ago, has made an astonishing recovery thanks to the tireless work of conservation scientists.
The journey began in 2014 when a remnant population of the snails was discovered hiding away in a damp alleyway in Hamilton, the island's capital city. Conservationists were quick to sound the alarm, realizing that this small group of snails might be all that remained of a once-thriving species. But thanks to international collaboration and cutting-edge breeding techniques at Chester zoo, more than 100,000 snails have been bred and released back into the wild.
According to Tamás Papp, invertebrates assistant team manager at Chester zoo, this achievement is a testament to the power of collaborative conservation efforts. "It's every conservationist's dream to help save a whole species," he said. "This scientific confirmation that we've saved them is something everyone involved will carry in their heart."
The snails' recovery has been hailed as a major success by scientists and conservationists alike. The introduction of predatory "wolf snails" and carnivorous flatworms had decimated the native population, but thanks to biosecurity measures shielding the species from invasive predators, the snails have now established thriving populations in six protected areas.
Dr Mark Outerbridge, an ecologist for the government of Bermuda, described it as "extremely gratifying" to see these tiny creatures back in their natural habitat. "It is remarkable to think we only began with less than 200 snails and have now released over 100,000," he said.
The restoration of the greater Bermuda snail has also highlighted the importance of biodiversity conservation. Dr Kristiina Ovaska of Biolinx Environmental Research noted that the snails function as both prey for larger animals and consumers of live and decaying vegetation, making them a vital component of their ecosystem.
As the conservation team now focuses on breeding a second rare species of snail, the recovery story of the greater Bermuda snail serves as a shining example of what can be achieved through collaborative conservation efforts.
. I mean, over 100k snails now roaming free is crazy! And its not just about the number of snails but how they contribute to the ecosystem as well. Its like they say that every small action counts & conservation efforts can make a huge difference 
. It just goes to show that with people working together, even the most unlikely things can thrive again 
"The greatest wealth is to live content with little." 
The conservation effort for the greater Bermuda snail might just be an inspiration for many, showing us that even the smallest creatures can make a big impact when we work together and take care of them. 
It's amazing to think about how far they've come from just 100 tiny snails in 2014 to over 100,000 thriving in their natural habitat now! 
. It's like a real-life fairy tale, right? 
And the part about how they're not just cute, but also super important for their ecosystem 
. gotta give props 2 Chester zoo & international collaboration for making this happen 
. 100k+ snails? It's crazy to think how far from extinction we've come in just a decade 
. I mean, it's not just about the number of snails, it's about what it says about human effort and conservation. We can make a difference, even with small groups of people coming together to help an entire species 
.
. It's awesome to see how one team can make such an impact 
. I mean, who needs soap operas when you've got snails saving the world one slimy trail at a time? It's like they say, "you can't keep a good snail down" 
. Seriously though, conservation efforts are pretty cool and all, but have you seen the prices of snail insurance lately? I guess it's a small price to pay for saving species 
. Anyway, I'm glad those little guys are thriving again – now let's go get some lunch, I'm starving!
snails thriving in Bermuda! it's all thanks to international collaboration and some serious conservation efforts 
, i mean its been 10 years since they were thought to be extinct and now there are over 100k snails thriving in bermuda thats crazy 
, its all thanks to the collaboration between scientists and conservationists which is really inspiring 
, but also a bit of a reminder that even with the best efforts we can still have setbacks like when invasive predators took out the native population 
, but its cool to see how they're working on breeding another species now, hopefully it can be just as successful 
. Plus, it's rad to see the collaboration between countries and experts coming together to save a species 
. The way they worked together to breed them and shield them from invasive predators was pure genius. I'm low-key impressed by all the scientists involved 
especially Dr. Outerbridge, dude, 200 to 100k snails is a wild swing!
. The conservation team is doing an amazing job, and I'm so grateful to see the government supporting their efforts 
. I mean, if one little snail could make such an incredible comeback just by being shielded from invasive predators, think about the impact we can have with some serious government backing 
.
. I do wonder how many invasive predators they had to deal with to get this far though... didn't they just introduce more snails to balance it out or something? And what's with these six protected areas? Shouldn't they be like, snail sanctuaries or something? 
! It's also really cool to see how this recovery is highlighting the importance of biodiversity conservation - these snails play such a vital role in their ecosystem, and it's great that we're learning more about their importance 