Citizen Scientists Unite for Quest to Find Elusive London Snail
In a bid to protect one of Britain's most endangered molluscs, over 100 volunteers have joined forces with experts from Citizen Zoo and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to embark on the first-ever London-wide search. The German hairy snail, measuring just over an inch in length, is a tiny but mighty inhabitant of the Thames' tidal stretches.
Dating back at least 2,000 years, this peculiar snail boasts fine hairs that line its slim shell, giving it a unique ability to cling to debris along the riverbanks. Its sticky slime is thought to be crucial for survival, as it allows the snail to feed on plants and avoid predators.
Despite being relatively unknown until 1982, fossil records suggest that this remarkable creature has been thriving in the Thames since Neolithic times. Its current decline is attributed to habitat fragmentation, pollution, and climate change – all pressing concerns in the London biodiversity action plan.
The coordinated search aims to shed light on the snail's whereabouts, population dynamics, and potential conservation strategies. Surveys have already yielded results near Kew, Richmond upon Thames, Isleworth Ait, and Cody Dock, with more locations expected to be discovered as the search continues.
Elliot Newton, director of rewilding at Citizen Zoo, was overjoyed to find his first German hairy snail, describing it as "beautiful creatures if you really pay attention to them." The Zoological Society's Joe Pecorelli echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that conservation efforts can safeguard not only the snail but also London's green spaces for future generations.
As the search continues, experts are optimistic about identifying effective strategies for boosting this endangered species. The German hairy snail serves as a poignant reminder of the diverse wildlife thriving in and around our cities – sparking imagination and encouraging us to appreciate the natural world that exists right on our doorstep.
In a bid to protect one of Britain's most endangered molluscs, over 100 volunteers have joined forces with experts from Citizen Zoo and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to embark on the first-ever London-wide search. The German hairy snail, measuring just over an inch in length, is a tiny but mighty inhabitant of the Thames' tidal stretches.
Dating back at least 2,000 years, this peculiar snail boasts fine hairs that line its slim shell, giving it a unique ability to cling to debris along the riverbanks. Its sticky slime is thought to be crucial for survival, as it allows the snail to feed on plants and avoid predators.
Despite being relatively unknown until 1982, fossil records suggest that this remarkable creature has been thriving in the Thames since Neolithic times. Its current decline is attributed to habitat fragmentation, pollution, and climate change – all pressing concerns in the London biodiversity action plan.
The coordinated search aims to shed light on the snail's whereabouts, population dynamics, and potential conservation strategies. Surveys have already yielded results near Kew, Richmond upon Thames, Isleworth Ait, and Cody Dock, with more locations expected to be discovered as the search continues.
Elliot Newton, director of rewilding at Citizen Zoo, was overjoyed to find his first German hairy snail, describing it as "beautiful creatures if you really pay attention to them." The Zoological Society's Joe Pecorelli echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that conservation efforts can safeguard not only the snail but also London's green spaces for future generations.
As the search continues, experts are optimistic about identifying effective strategies for boosting this endangered species. The German hairy snail serves as a poignant reminder of the diverse wildlife thriving in and around our cities – sparking imagination and encouraging us to appreciate the natural world that exists right on our doorstep.
It's cool to see people get excited about saving wildlife.
initiative! It's so cool that ordinary people are getting involved in conserving our environment. I mean, we've got citizen scientists unifying with experts from the Zoological Society of London – talk about a win-win for our planet 
! These volunteers are on the ground, searching high and low for this elusive snail, which is just incredible. It's like they're solving a real-life mystery 
! I'm also super impressed by Elliot Newton's enthusiasm – "beautiful creatures if you really pay attention to them" is so true 
. We need more people like him who genuinely care about wildlife and the environment. The fact that this snail has been thriving in the Thames for thousands of years just shows us how resilient nature can be 
. Let's keep spreading love and support for our local wildlife – it's making a difference, one search at a time 
!
I mean, great, another "citizen scientist" group is formed to search for some obscure snail in London... like how many other species are going extinct because of humans already? 
Anyway, I'm all for conservation efforts, but can't we do something more substantial than just searching for a tiny snail that's been living in the Thames for thousands of years? It's not like this is a new problem or anything... 
! i mean, can u believe its been around 4 like 2000 yrs & we still dont know much about it? 
its like we r learnin a new secret abt our own city's history 
& the fact that its strugglin is just so sad 
but im so hyped 2 see these citizen scientists & experts workin together 2 make a difference 
! lets keep those green spaces safe 4 future genz 
. Anyway, I'm rooting for these citizen scientists and the German hairy snail - they deserve our love and support! 
we need to keep pushing for more research and conservation efforts to protect our wildlife 
I think it's awesome that people are coming together to help protect this tiny but super interesting creature 
. It's crazy how much of a impact humans can have on the environment, especially in something as seemingly small as a snail 
. The fact that it's been around for 2k+ years is wild, right? 
.
and the best part is, they're gonna figure out ways to help it thrive in the Thames again 
i mean, 2k yrs old! that's like, ancient history right? 
! We gotta protect our cities' green spaces & wildlife, for future gen's sake 
And kudos to these citizen scientists and experts working together to find this little guy - it's all about conservation and making a positive impact on London's biodiversity. 
the fact that we're still havin a hard time savin it is crazy