Source link : https://london-news.net/headline-united-for-a-cause-citizens-and-scientists-join-forces-to-save-londons-endangered-ice-age-hairy-snail/
Conservationists and citizen scientists have united on a mission to protect London’s “delightfully small” ice-age hairy snail.
Known as the German hairy snail due to the fine hairs adorning its shell and its believed origins from the European mainland, this rare mollusk is among the most endangered species in the UK.
This minuscule creature (Pseudotrichia rubiginosa) resides exclusively in limited, fragmented areas of its traditional, moist riverside environment along the River Thames.
Under the guidance of Citizen Zoo and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), a team has embarked on a series of surveys to gain a clearer understanding of the species’ distribution throughout the city, aiming to inform conservation efforts.
Over the past few months, the group has been actively searching for and identifying the species at both established and potential river sites in boroughs such as Newham, Richmond upon Thames, and Barnet.
Their goal is to create a comprehensive overview of the snail’s current range in the UK and to explore how habitat restoration, pollution control, and careful relocation of snails between various locations can aid in their population recovery.
Joe Pecorelli, who manages the freshwater conservation program at ZSL, remarked, “This delightful little snail has made our riverbanks and wetlands its habitat for thousands of years; unfortunately, it is now extremely rare in the UK, possibly confined to just a handful of locations along the…
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Publish date : 2025-11-24 12:42:00
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