According to reporters in Tokyo, Japanese scientists have issued a warning about the declining number of snails appearing during the rainy season in the country as the area of arid and urban regions increases. Notably, half of the species in the Western Kinki region (Osaka and neighboring provinces) are at risk of extinction.
Statistics show that there are currently about 800 species of snails in Japan. Efforts to create new “green areas” for snails may prove ineffective as these creatures struggle to reach such areas due to their limited mobility.
There are currently about 800 species of snails in Japan
Katsuki Nakai, a senior researcher at the Biwa Lake Museum in Shiga Prefecture, stated that the number of snails is gradually decreasing in areas close to human habitation due to urbanization: “Even when trees are planted nearby, snails cannot reach them to make them their shelter because they move slowly using mucus.”
According to him, about 100 out of approximately 200 snail species in Kinki are at risk of extinction. Most of these species live in forests, and many are believed to be affected by changes in vegetation and soil due to acid rain, partly from deer feeding.
Many species inhabit very small areas, meaning that the loss of a single habitat can significantly increase the risk of extinction. However, researcher Nakai also warns against the proactive relocation of snails, as this could impact the ecosystems of native species.
Meanwhile, Tsukasa Waki, an associate professor at Toho University researching parasites in mollusks, noted that the expansion of arid regions is a contributing factor to the decline in snail populations. Snails are vulnerable in dry environments, often preferring to live in moist areas like leaf litter. However, they are losing their “hiding places” as fallen leaves and decaying trees are often removed from urban parks.
According to Waki: “It is essential to continue protecting the current habitats of snails” to prevent the decline of snail populations. “It is also crucial to encourage more people to be aware of the current situation and care about this issue.”
