The Government has recently revised the list of species protected under the Nature Protection Act to include three species of snail not previously protected.  This follows a research project by  Dr Alex Menez, Senior Scientific and Conservation Officer, and Honorary Fellow, at the Gibraltar National Museum, and a Senior Associate Researcher and member of the Field Ecology Research Group, at the University of Gibraltar.  Alex has studied the Mollusca for many years and research has included the captive breeding of land molluscs. Some species of snails and slugs have declined over the last few decades; some have small ranges, which potentially increase the risk of diminishing abundance.

The project provides potential to release juvenile, sub adult, and adult captive bred individuals, at sites where the original adults were collected. This approach provides for possibly better success of released individuals in known habitats of the species. 

The Nature Protection Act 1991 protects over half of all the land molluscs of Gibraltar, including, of course, endemic species. Along with the formal authorization of the project, now required as the species are scheduled, three additional snails were listed in Schedule 1: 

Papillifera papillaris, an introduction from many years ago, and first recorded in southern Iberia at Gibraltar, is rare and has only been found in two locations at Gibraltar; 

Pseudotachea litturata was once abundant, mostly at Mediterranean Steps, but has declined significantly over the last few decades. 

Rossmaessleria scherzeri, a Gibraltar endemic known since 1867, which has a restricted distribution, was also listed in Schedule 3 which provides a higher level of protection. 

The captive breeding project, along with added species to the Nature Protection Act, will contribute to the conservation of Gibraltar’s fauna.

Minister for Environment John Cortes said, “While these are small species which some may find insignificant, they are rare, and in the case of one of them, it is found nowhere else on Earth.  We have an obligation to protect and enhance our biodiversity, especially in relation to species unique to Gibraltar.  The legal step is the easy one.  Dr Menez’s specialised and difficult conservation work will hopefully ensure their survival”.