Critically endangered Native Hawaiian snails released into protected habitat

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – More than 100 critically endangered Kahuli, or Hawaiian land snails, were released into a protected habitat in the Koolau Mountains.

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The Honolulu Zoo worked with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources to organize the release the native Hawaiian tree snails, which are found only on Oahu.

Kahuli are a key part of Hawaii’s forest ecosystems, as they are crucial for nutrient cycling and decomposition.

Hawaii is home to more than 750 species of native snails, many found nowhere else on Earth, according to the DLNR.

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Several Hawaiian snail species are facing extinction due to habitat loss and invasive predators.

The snails released in this latest effort were raised through the state’s Snail Extinction Prevention Program and released into a carefully managed area designed to protect them from invasive predators.

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