Obo snails are awesome. Indisputably.
Stylishly squidgy, they are the epitome of minding one’s own business and taking life at a leisurely pace. Their days consist of sliming around the tiny islands of Sao Tome and Principe, climbing trees and leaving tourists amazed at their sheer size.
These handsome specimens have been living peacefully here for generations - never leaving nor emigrating. The forests are their home and they’ve evolved the perfect set of traits to thrive here.
But they have one trait that’s proved to be a death sentence. They’re edible. Their flesh is being demanded by the kilo and it’s proving more than they can take.
Much, much more.
Completely defenceless against poachers, hundreds upon hundreds are being plucked from their homes, peeled from their shells and sliced open to be served as local delicacies.
This is happening unbearably quickly; in fact, 75% of their population has vanished in the last 20 years alone. These wonderful beasts have - out of nowhere - been harvested to the brink of extinction. Conservationists don’t know what that will mean for the forests.
Today, with their numbers trodden into the dirt, the final, crushing stomp seems set to come from a wholly different threat - invasive species. New – human-introduced - creatures have begun spreading disease and out-competing them for sustenance. Their battered, broken population won't withstand it for long.
This may seem like the end of the road. But there’s still a glimmer of hope.
Enough of these stoical snails have battled on and are clinging to the remotest areas of the forests, holding the line.
And they’ve got you. A quite remarkable bunch of people who’ve proven time and time again that you’ll stand up for the underdog - underdogs like these snails who are desperately overlooked and shamefully undervalued.
Through your donations we’ll be able to apply the same expertise that has worked across continents to help turn around the fates of turtles, elephants, rhinos and countless other species. And with enough support from people like you, we’re confident that we can save these croissant-size creatures on their two tiny islands.
So, let’s save this enormous snail’s precious home - the forest, not just the house on its back. And let’s keep them safe and sound in the place where they belong.
As big as they are, they're falling hard. But - if everyone reading this donates just $10 - you could help us put the protection in place to save these marvellous animals. Thank you.
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Photo Credit: Estrela Matilde/Fundação Príncipe
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