Race to rescue London's rare hairy snail

Conservationists have launched a project to save the endangered German hairy snail, which is native to the UK and primarily found along the River Thames. This effort, led by Citizen Zoo and the Zoological Society of London, involves surveying various boroughs to map the species' distribution. Joe Pecorelli, a freshwater conservation manager at ZSL, noted that the snail has been a part of the UK ecosystem for thousands of years but is now restricted to a few sites. The surveys will guide habitat restoration and pollution management, crucial for increasing the snail's population. Fossil records suggest the snail has existed in the UK since the Stone Age, highlighting its historical significance.

The project collaborates with multiple organizations, including the London Wildlife Trust and the Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Funding support from Thames21 enhances the initiative's scope. Ultimately, the project seeks to preserve not just the snail but also London's biodiversity for future generations.