Once thought to be extinct, the Bermuda snail is making a remarkable comeback after a decade of dedicated conservation efforts. This tiny, button-sized creature, known as the greater Bermuda snail (Poecilozonites bermudensis), was believed to have vanished from its Bermudian home in the North Atlantic archipelago. However, a small population was discovered in a hidden, damp alleyway in Hamilton, the island's capital, in 2014. This discovery sparked a global effort to save the species from extinction.
Conservation scientists, the government of Bermuda, and Chester Zoo joined forces to breed and release over 100,000 of these mollusks. The snails, which are endemic to Bermuda, had been struggling due to global heating, habitat loss, and the introduction of invasive predators like 'wolf snails' and carnivorous flatworms. But the collaborative efforts of these organizations have proven successful, with the species now confirmed as safe from extinction.
Tamás Papp, the invertebrates assistant team manager at Chester Zoo, expressed his pride in the achievement: "It’s every conservationist’s dream to help save a whole species – and that’s exactly what we’ve done. This scientific confirmation that we’ve saved them is testament to the role zoos can play in preventing extinction, and in the power of collaboration, and is something everyone involved will carry in their heart."
The snails have been reintroduced to protected wooded habitats on the islands, shielded from invasive predators by biosecurity measures. According to a population assessment, they have now established themselves in six areas, marking a significant step towards repairing biodiversity loss. Dr. Mark Outerbridge, an ecologist for the government of Bermuda, shared his satisfaction: "It has been extremely gratifying to be involved with this reintroduction program and to see these snails back in Bermuda’s ecosystem again. It is remarkable to think we only began with less than 200 snails and have now released over 100,000."
Dr. Kristiina Ovaska, from Canada-based partners Biolinx Environmental Research, emphasized the importance of the snails' restoration in restoring degraded ecosystems: "The snails function both as prey for larger animals and as consumers of live and decaying vegetation, so they are vital for turning over nutrients within their habitat."
The Chester Zoo team is now focusing on breeding a second rare species of snail, the lesser Bermuda land snail (Poecilozonites circumfirmatus), highlighting the ongoing commitment to conservation efforts in Bermuda.
