Powelliphanta augusta
These large, handsome looking carnivorous snails face an uncertain future.
Powelliphanta augusta has had a particularly tough time at the hands of humans. The only place these snails occur naturally was on Mt Augustus, northeast of Westport. However, this site was mined for coal, destroying the snail’s habitat.
To save the species, snails were collected and kept in refrigeration with the goal of reestablishing populations away from the now mined original habitat. These attempts also involved transplanting vegetation from the now destroyed site.
Sadly, the efforts have not been particularly successful with most released snails dying and the transplanting of vegetation failing. The species hangs on in refrigerated captivity. It’s literally a cold comfort in the absence of anywhere for these snails to go.
Check these links for more info on the Giant Ground Snail in NZ
Wikipedia: Information on Powelliphanta augusta
images
Click on the image to visit the official observation.
