Rare Snail Caught Laying Egg Though Its Neck, in Scientific First

New Zealand’s Powelliphanta augusta snails have made a remarkable comeback, returning to their wild habitat after nearly half a century of near-extinction due to coal mining. Conservationists since 2006 have preserved the species through captive breeding efforts, and recent success included capturing live footage of an egg-laying event for the first time in decades. This achievement underscores the challenges these slow-maturing snails face in sustaining wild populations, as their limited reproductive success continues to impact their survival.