Conservationists unite to save London’s rare ‘German’ hairy snail

Environmentalists and citizen scientists have joined forces for a project to save London’s “charming little” ice age hairy snail.

The rare species, named the German hairy snail because of the tiny hairs covering its shell and because it is believed to have originally come from the continent, is one of the UK’s most endangered molluscs.

The fingernail-sized animal (Pseudotrichia rubiginosa) can only be found in small, fragmented patches in its historic moist riparian habitat along the River Thames.

The team, led by Citizens Zoo and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), has launched a series of studies to better understand the species’ distribution in the capital and inform conservation actions.

Over the last few months the team has been surveying and identifying species at both known and potential river sites in counties including Newham, Richmond upon Thames and Barnet.

The team then hopes to build a stronger picture of the snail’s current range in the UK and determine how habitat restoration, pollution management and careful movement of snails between areas could help restore their numbers.

ZSL freshwater conservation program manager Joe Pecorelli said: “This fascinating little snail has called our riverbanks and wetlands home for thousands of years – but unfortunately it is now very rare in the UK, potentially restricted to just a few areas along the River Thames.”

Although it was first recorded in the UK in 1982, fossilized remains suggest that the German hairy snail has called the UK home since at least the Stone Age, and potentially even since the last Ice Age, when Britain was still connected to mainland Europe.

During this period, the River Thames was connected to the Rhine, Germany’s longest river, which flows into the North Sea today.

Mr Pecorelli said: “These studies will help us understand how the snail progresses and how we can protect it, not only securing their future for years to come, but also helping to protect London’s green spaces for people and wildlife for future generations.”

The team then hopes to build a stronger picture of the snail’s current range in the UK and determine how habitat restoration, pollution management and careful movement of snails between areas could help restore their numbers.

Fine hairs along the thin, rounded shell are thought to allow the snail to sweat out moisture and help make its mucus sticky enough to cling to slippery riverside debris and the plants it feeds on.

Elliot Newton, Citizen Zoo’s rewilding manager, said: “The German hairy snail is a species that sparks the imagination and opens people’s minds to the curious and diverse wildlife that can thrive in Greater London.

“It reminds us of the incredible natural world we have right on our doorstep.

“The surveys show how, by working with many partners across the capital and strengthening local communities, we can gain a deeper understanding of London’s hidden biodiversity and take steps to protect it.”

The project is being delivered in partnership with the London Wildlife Trust, the Concology Association of Great Britain and Ireland, Greenspace Information for Greater London CIC and the Port of London Authority, with funding support from Thames21 and the Concology Association of Great Britain and Ireland.