Staff members at Chester Zoo have successfully bred and reintroduced 300 specimens of Madeiran land snails to their native environment on Bugio Island, located in Portugal’s Madeira archipelago. The effort was undertaken after experts discovered only 21 of the snails remaining in the wild, clinging to a rock formation on the remote island. The Madeira government had requested assistance from Chester Zoo’s conservation team to help preserve the species, which was believed to be critically endangered.
The reintroduction process presented significant logistical and environmental challenges. Team members had to navigate treacherous conditions to complete the operation, including jumping directly into the ocean from a boat and scaling cliff faces in darkness to locate suitable crevices within the rocks. The lack of a jetty on the island and unpredictable weather patterns created a narrow window for the mission to succeed. Zoo personnel equipped themselves with safety gear including helmets and harnesses before ascending the steep terrain.
According to Tamas Papp, assistant team manager for invertebrates at Chester Zoo, the operation represented an exceptionally difficult reintroduction effort. He emphasized the critical nature of the undertaking, noting that failure would have resulted in the complete extinction of the species. The Madeiran land snails, which measure approximately 8 millimeters in length, play an ecological role by consuming vegetation and improving soil quality in their habitat. The reintroduced population will be subject to ongoing monitoring as the snails adjust to their restored environment.
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