A land snail species reduced to just 21 surviving individuals has returned to the wild thanks to an international conservation programme led by Chester Zoo and ZooParc de Beauval.
More than 300 zoo-bred Geomitra coronula have now been released on Bugio Island, in the Madeira archipelago, alongside 270 Discula lyelliana as part of a large-scale restoration project.
The two species are among four endemic Madeiran snails that had been pushed to the brink of extinction by habitat loss and invasive species.
Before the release, conservationists worked with the Government of Madeira to remove invasive animals, restore native habitats and identify suitable release sites across the island.
Although they measure no more than eight millimetres, these tiny snails play a vital ecological role. They help break down organic matter, enrich the soil and support the functioning of fragile island ecosystems.
The reintroduction marks an important milestone for the conservation of little-known invertebrates, demonstrating that coordinated breeding programmes in zoological institutions can help restore even the world’s smallest and most overlooked endangered species.
