A complete decade ago, the sole surviving population of greater Bermuda land snails was unearthed in an alleyway in Hamilton’s capital city. They had settled on concrete slabs near a dripping air conditioner, thriving in the moist environment. Presently, these native creatures seem to be flourishing in the wild once more, thanks to the dedicated efforts of conservationists. Over the past seven years, more than 10,000 snails bred in captivity have been reintroduced into Bermuda’s protected wooded areas.
Katie Kelton, an invertebrate keeper at Chester Zoo in the UK, expressed delight at the snails’ progress, noting confirmed breeding and a growing population. The collaborative initiative involving Chester Zoo, Biolinx Environmental Research in Canada, and the Bermudian government has been successful in rescuing the species from the brink of extinction. An upcoming edition of Oryx, The International Journal of Conservation, will feature a study documenting the project’s achievements.
Despite the positive strides, challenges persist for the snails due to ongoing threats such as habitat loss and invasive predators. These factors previously pushed the snails to the edge of extinction. Greater Bermuda land snails, scientifically known as P. bermudensis, are crucial to Bermuda’s ecosystems, serving as decomposers and providing essential nutrients to the soil through leaf litter breakdown. Additionally, their shells supply calcium to native birds and reptiles for egg-laying purposes.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies P. bermudensis as critically endangered, highlighting the species’ precarious status. The successful re-introduction of the snails was acknowledged during the recent Reverse The Red Day, an event aimed at celebrating efforts to combat biodiversity loss. The achievement was lauded by Michael Clifford, Reverse the Red’s strategy director.
Kelton emphasized the challenging journey of breeding and rehabilitating the snails, underscoring the team’s dedication to conservation. While the re-introduction of the snails to protected woodland sites has been fruitful, long-term survival remains uncertain. Timothy Pearce, a mollusk curator at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, stressed the importance of ongoing research in developing effective protocols for similar conservation programs.
Efforts to reintroduce the snails to various sites across Bermuda have yielded mixed results, with some locations proving more successful than others. The snails have shown promising signs of breeding and expanding their territory on offshore islands, indicating a positive trend in their reintegration into local ecosystems. However, continuous vigilance and conservation efforts are essential to safeguard the newly established colonies and ensure the snails’ sustained presence in Bermuda’s natural habitats.
Kelton expressed gratitude for her role in preserving the beloved snails, highlighting the significance of giving this unique species a fighting chance in the face of adversity.
