The famous George, the last known snail of his kind, died on New Year’s Day this year. He was about 14 years old. George was the very last surviving
The loss is significant to locals, as George was the star of numerous articles. Many school children have visited with him over the years. George had achieved a kind of celebrity status.
George was a tree snail. He ate tree fungus, algae, and bacteria. He never lived in an actual forest but spent his days in a lab in Kailua,
Climate Change and Predators Doomed Snail
The Guardian says that George’s passing epitomizes the problem of biodiversity loss in Hawaii. Climate change and invasive predators both have decreased native animals and insects.
In Hawaiian culture, snails are said to make sounds. Natives lore calls them “the voice of the forest.” Snails like George and his kind used to live all throughout the Hawaiian Islands. In the 1870s, natives gave British captain George Dickson a snail shell lei upon his arrival in Hawaii. Back in those days, snails lived hanging from trees in huge clusters. This made them easy pickings for collectors and scientists.
Unfortunately, by the early 1900s, collectors had taken so many of the snails that they were nearly extinct. Then, in 1955, the rosy wolfsnail was introduced to Hawaii for the purpose of controlling the giant African snail, another invasive species. The wolfsnail ate many other native snails as well, further endangering the native population.
George’s shell and body will be preserved, along with a sample of his “foot.” The foot will go to the San Diego’s Frozen Zoo. Scientists hope to one day clone George from this sample and revive the species.
There will be no funeral.
