Five hundred rare Polynesian Partula snails left the Detroit Zoo for Tahiti. Yes, literally in a parcel — though it was sent by courier express delivery with special conditions. The zoo has spent years breeding them in captivity so they can be returned to their natural habitat.
At first glance, sending an endangered species in a box seems like a risky idea. But the shipping process is more carefully arranged than usual. The snails are wrapped in dry paper: this puts them into a state similar to light dormancy and helps preserve moisture. The boxes are insulated, and special temperature packs maintain the right microclimate.
Under an international program, more than 17,000 snails have already been returned to the wild. And most importantly, after previous releases, specialists saw offspring born in the wild.
