Scientists are working to protect the Chittenango ovate amber snails, which are on the brink of extinction in Upstate New York.
The process: The researchers are transporting a captive-bred population of the snails to a new, remote home in an effort to save the species.
* Ally Whitbread, who is part of the team, has compared the process to taking care of “500 babies.”
* The recovery process for the snails can take years to decades, and success is uncertain.
Biodiversity benefits: Conservation and study of rare species can potentially unlock their hidden benefits to humans.
* Laura Dee, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, suggested that some plants and animals may possess unique traits that could serve us in the future.
* Even though the Chittenango ovate amber snail does not currently have any known unique traits critical to humans, the effort to save them is considered valuable.
The long-term project: The initiative to save the snails has lasted more than five years and involves site surveys, land negotiations, and keeping the sensitive species alive in the lab.
* It will take another five years to determine whether the snails can survive in their new habitat.
Emotional attachment: Alongside the scientific rationale for saving the species, researchers have developed an emotional connection to the snails.
* Cody Gilbertson, a senior research support specialist, has stated that the snails are “so cute” and that the team has fallen in love with them.
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