British zoos launch captive breeding program to rescue Wales' rare glutinous snail
Conservationist Ian Hughes is partnering with UK zoos to create captive “ark” populations of the endangered glutinous snail, the only surviving wild group of which lives in Wales' Llyn Tegid.
The glutinous snail (Myxas glutinosa), once common across UK waters, now survives only in Wales' Llyn Tegid, prompting Ian Hughes to start a backyard breeding program after securing a licence from Natural Resources Wales. His greenhouse colony produced the first recorded eggs, leading to a partnership with the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums to establish “ark” populations across England. Zoos including Wingham Wildlife Park, Askham Bryan Wildlife Park, Longleat, Dudley and Chester are housing snails in specially designed ponds while the Freshwater Habitats Trust searches for future release sites.
This initiative is part of a £60 million UK government scheme to safeguard rare species, with a target to re-introduce the snail to the wild within three years. Hughes' family is actively involved, and officials note that climate change heightens the snail's risk, making the zoo network crucial for its survival.
Why it matters
Protecting the snail safeguards biodiversity and demonstrates how captive breeding can rescue critically endangered invertebrates.
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