HONOLULU — four members of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s (DOFAW) Snail Extinction Prevention Program transferred 2,000 rare Hawaiian snails from a temporary structure at Kawainui Marsh to DLNR’s main administrative offices at the Kalanimoku Building in downtown Honolulu.
Many of the snails are so critically endangered that they are the last of their kinds on the planet, the DLNR said in a press release Friday. Take, for instance, “George” (Achatinella apexfulva), the last remaining member of its species in captivity.
Cynthia King, DOFAW entomologist said, “Just one is left so we really want to make sure that this species stays safe for as long as possible in the event he is able to reproduce.”
Other native snail species number in the 10’s and hundreds.
Why is it that we’re running around at the last minute trying to save snails?” King said. “They are biologically important as ecosystem processors and they’re also important in Hawaiian culture. They’ve evolved over millions of years, they have a place in the forest, they have a place in these islands, so we want to be sure we have them here for as long as possible.”
The major concern is that team members might not have been able to reach the snails at Kawainui if the roads got blocked or the power went out. Kupaa Hee, the Oahu Field Coordinator for the program will spend tonight serving as a nursemaid to the snails, housed in 80 crates.
As soon as Hurricane Lane is no longer a threat to Oahu and to these smallest of native creatures, their trip downtown will be reserved and they’ll return to their climate-controlled environment at Kawainui with hopes that their numbers will continue increasing.