The success of an international breeding programme has led to a genus of endangered tree-snails that are soon to be reintroduced into their Polynesian home.

The programme, which was led by ZSL London Zoo in partnership with St Louis Zoo and 16 other zoos around the world, bred three species of Partula snail, Partula affinis, Partula nodosa and Partula hyalina. 

Partula originate from the volcanic islands of French Polynesia, and they provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of evolution. In the 1970's they were decimated after the predatory rosy wolf snail was introduced from Florida to control the population of African giant land snails, but instead, they preyed upon these tiny native snails.

Don McFarlane is the ZSL London Zoo invertebrate keeper, and he will be escorting the snails to the Island of Tahiti in October. After a 30-year absence from the island, they will be released into a protected reserve in their native forest habitat.

McFarlane has also coordinated the Partula studbook, where information on genetics and parentage of the snails is recorded to ensure a healthy and genetically-diverse population. He said: 

“There used to be more than 70 species of Partula tree-snails across the Pacific French Polynesian islands, but due to man's influence, most of these species are now endangered or extinct in the wild.

“This project is the result of almost 30 years of collaborative work between zoos around the world, and the French Polynesian Government. We're really hopeful that the hard work will pay off and we'll see Partula snails thriving in the wild once again.”

Image courtesy of Zoological Society London.