Australia's Rescue Mission for Critically Endangered Snails

In June 2023, a plane landed at Norfolk Island Airport, carrying a cargo of 600 Campbells keeled glass-snails, a species once deemed extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 1996.

This rescue mission stemmed from a discovery by citizen scientist Mark Scott in 2020, who found these snails, prompting Dr. Isabel Hyman from the Australian Museum to lead a recovery effort. After a challenging start at Taronga Zoo, where initial population growth was hindered by mortality rates, the snail population eventually grew to over 800.

The snails were released in July 2023 into a carefully chosen valley, designed to provide optimal conditions, despite a subsequent mould outbreak that resulted in the loss of 260 snails. Researchers, including Junn Kitt Foon, are monitoring the released snails, with early signs of population growth as baby snails have been spotted.

The team plans another reintroduction in 2026 and is working to update the IUCN status to reflect that the species is not extinct. This conservation initiative highlights innovative approaches in biodiversity efforts in Australia, emphasizing the significance of invertebrate conservation.