Researchers this week bid farewell to a beloved land snail that was the last known survivor of his species Achatinella apexfulva.
Researchers this week bid farewell to a beloved land snail that was the last known survivor of his species Achatinella apexfulva.
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) wrote in a touching Facebook post on Thursday that George died New Year’s Day at the estimated age of 14 years old, according to David Sischo, a wildlife biologist with the Hawaii Invertebrate Program. George, the post said, was named for the Pinta Island tortoise Lonesome George —another lone survivor of its species that has become an icon of conservation efforts. George was one of 10 of the snails brought to a lab at the University of Hawaii in 1997 but was the only one that survived:
New Scientist reported in 2016 that it is partly humans who are responsible for the demise of Achatinella apexfulva, which were coveted by collectors for their stunning shells—they were frequently used for lei adornments—though climate change, invasive species, and loss of habitat are reportedly also factors.
