Scientists are mourning the death of a Hawaiian snail known as George, the last known survivor of its species.
The 14-year-old mollusc lived alone in a tank at the University of Hawaii’s “snail ark”, where it hatched as part of a captive breeding programme that began in 1997 with the collection of the last ten such snails known to exist. All but George later died of unknown causes.
“George, the last known Achatinella apexfulva, died on New Year’s Day 2019. He is survived by none,” wrote David Sischo, head of the Snail Extinction Prevention Program, in a statement from Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources.
“Sadly, his passing is also a harbinger of what’s to come for our remaining tree snails if more