Restoring the glutinous snail to Britain

The glutinous snail (Myxas glutinosa) is considered Europe’s rarest freshwater snail, extinct in England and now surviving in just one lake in Wales. Thanks to the expertise and work of ecologist Ian Hughes and BIAZA partner Lifeforms Art, we at BIAZA have recently worked to establish four new ark populations across our zoo community. Our members caring for glutinous snails currently include Askham Bryan Conservation and Wildlife Park, Dudley Zoo and Castle, Longleat Safari Park and Wingham Wildlife Park. 

Thanks to support from Corporate Associate sponsors JCS Livestock, we have now been able to fund the collection of a second population of snails from their last wild refuge (under licence and with support from Natural Resources Wales). Corporate Member Mazuri have kindly funded their care in new quarantine facilities, whilst BIAZA's Glutinous Snail Taskforce consolidates exciting plans to continue to conserve this special little species, and the important freshwater habitats which they rely on.