North Carolina wildlife officials on Thursday released 2,000 endangered snails back into the wild.
The Magnificent Ramshorn snails were released into a pond in Brunswick County. According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, this species of snail is a unique part of the state's aquatic history.
Because of their endangered status, the Magnificent Ramshorn snail had only lived in captivity for the past 20 years.
The Magnificent Ramshorn is a freshwater snail found nowhere else in the world except for the lower Cape Fear River basin in North Carolina.
The snails are just under two inches long when fully grown with leopard-like spots on their shells and rich, maroon-colored bodies.
Thursday's release allows researchers to study the snails' survival in the wild, and the results so far are promising.
"We are excited about the promising early results, representing a significant step toward species recovery," said Emilia Omerberg, NC Wildlife aquatic snail biologist. "Initial monitoring indicates the snails have survived and reproduced in the pond, including the first wild hatches since the early 2000s."
Christian Waters, NC Wildlife's inland fisheries chief, called it a "conservation win."
"It has been a labor of dedication, thoughtful planning, partnerships and support from our commissioners," Waters said.
Biologists will monitor the snails' progress and may add more to the pond at a later date. Other locations for release will also be considered.
"captivity" - Google News
November 18, 2023 at 01:00AM
https://ift.tt/izPRAGv
Endangered snails released in NC pond after 20 years in captivity - WRAL News
"captivity" - Google News
https://ift.tt/y0om62Q
https://ift.tt/Ksijt4g
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Endangered snails released in NC pond after 20 years in captivity - WRAL News"
Post a Comment