Just 11 survived after a predator introduced to fight garden pests nearly wiped them out: Hawaii’s rare tree snails return to the wild after 33 years​on November 4, 2026 at 6:34 am

After years of dedicated conservation work, the O‘ahu tree snail has made a triumphant return to Hawaii’s stunning Ko‘olau Mountains. Since rescuing the last of the species in 1991 and breeding them to over 1,000 individuals, conservationists have created a safe habitat that shields them from invasive threats. Despite this success, the long-term survival of these snails remains uncertain, necessitating continuous monitoring and further breeding efforts.