Some Hawaiian snails have been described as the “jewels of the forest” because of their intricate shells, and remain important figures in folklore, hula and chant. They’re also important to the ecosystem — increasing nutrient cycling and protecting plants by feeding on fungus and algae. There were once over 750 snail species throughout Hawaii, but about 90 percent of these snails have become extinct, due to predation, habitat destruction and over-collection, because of their shells.

“Biodiversity loss is occurring across the globe, but on island chains like Hawaii, extinction has been particularly dramatic," David said. "We are truly at a crossroads for many species here.”

As coordinator of Hawaii’s Snail Extinction Prevention Program, David knows that many species are quietly being erased from the landscape due to a variety of human induced factors. Among other things, he oversees field and lab work, which involves about 1,400 individual snails in captivity and 50 rare and endangered snail species from across the Hawaiian Islands.

“Our field work consists of surveying for undiscovered remaining populations in remote natural areas, monitoring critical populations, conducting predator control and removal, and constructing and maintaining predator-proof fencing that protects rare populations from introduced predators," he said.

Despite SEP’s efforts, some species of snails will not make it out of the lab, as is the case with Lonesome George — the last surviving Achatinella apexfulva, one of the first Hawaiian land snail species to be identified.

Lonesome George is about 12 years old and “a bit of a recluse,” spending most of his time in his shell. Even as the last of his kind however, he still gives hope for his species — as his DNA has been preserved for potential cloning.

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