Scientific Commitment
Pachystyla bicolor conservation
Once so abundant in our forests that people gathered them by the sack-full to feed livestock, Pachystyla bicolor, a snail found only in the Mascarene Islands, has nearly vanished from the wild.
Case Study
Endemic Land Snail Conservation
Already extinct in Réunion Island, this remarkable species could disappear without urgent conservation action.
Its decline has been driven by invasive alien species, pigs, rats, tenrecs and introduced carnivorous snails along with severe habitat loss. Today, less than 5% of good quality native forest remains.
But extinction is not inevitable.
Through a captive breeding programme, this rare endemic species has been given a second chance. In collaboration with the NPCS, Ebony Forest and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, La Vanille is proud to contribute to this effort, with more than 800 individuals bred and released into the wild so far.
Pre-release enclosure at Mount Camizard for captive-bred Pachystyla. The enclosure allows the snails to adapt to life in the wild while keeping out predators such as rats and toads.
Captive-bred Pachystyla bicolor, an endangered snail endemic to Mauritius. These snails are ready for release at Mount Camizard.
Because even the smallest life on Earth is worth saving.
This World Wildlife Day, we celebrate the small heroes of our ecosystems and the people working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure they are not lost forever.