York college's bid to save critically endangered snail

A college has begun a project to stave off the extinction of a critically endangered species of mollusc.

The glutinous snail has disappeared almost entirely in Britain and can now only be found at Lake Bala in Wales.

A team from York's Askham Bryan College have transported a number of the 1.5cm gastropods to a campus wildlife area, in an attempt to breed them.

If the scheme works, the college will create a dedicated glutinous snail reserve open to the public.

Lauren Lane, conservation manager at Askham Bryan Wildlife Park, said: "It is imperative that we all work together to ensure there is a future for all species that live in freshwater habitats."

Ms Lane said 67 species of freshwater snail had "gone extinct with a further 450 species threatened".

"Protecting the waters they live in is key to their survival," she added.

In March, staff at the college travelled to Snowdonia National Park and the home of the glutinous snail (Myxas glutinosa).

Conservationist Ian Hughes, who has spent a decade working with the species in Wales, said he welcomed the Yorkshire team's continuation of his conservation project.

"The snails have been extinct in England for 30 years, they are going to go into a very well cared for semi-natural pond, and we're very excited about it," he said.

The creatures will be able to viewed by the public once they have settled into their new watery home and have commenced successful breeding.

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