Success for Species Protection: Once Critically Endangered Bermuda Snail Reintroduced - Bermuda's 'extinct' land snail stages a triumphant wild comeback

The Bermuda land snail, once thought lost forever, has made a remarkable return to its native island. Conservationists at Chester Zoo spent five years carefully breeding thousands of these tiny creatures in captivity before releasing them back into the wild.

The Bermuda land snail (Poecilochilus bermudensis) had disappeared from the island for decades. In 2014, a small group was rediscovered in Hamilton, sparking hope for their survival. At the time, the species was critically endangered, facing threats from habitat destruction, pesticides, and invasive predators like the rosy wolf snail.

Chester Zoo took on the challenge, launching a breeding programme that eventually raised around 60,000 snails at its peak. The first batch was reintroduced to Bermuda in 2019. Since then, conservationists have worked to restore suitable habitats across four distinct ecosystems: coastal forests, sinkholes, quarries, and protected reserves.

To protect the snails, predator-proof fences were installed, invasive species were removed, and habitats were carefully restored. Ongoing monitoring ensures the population remains stable. Today, six thriving colonies of Bermuda land snails now live on the island, marking a major success for wildlife recovery efforts.

The reintroduction of the Bermuda land snail stands as a concrete achievement in conservation. With active protection measures in place, the species now has a fighting chance against extinction. The project also serves as a model for restoring other endangered species in fragile island ecosystems.