• First-ever footage of a Powelliphanta augusta snail laying an egg from its neck was captured at a conservation facility in New Zealand.
• Powelliphanta augusta snails are hermaphrodites that take eight years to reach sexual maturity and lay approximately five eggs per year.
• The snail species faced near extinction due to mining activities and accidental deaths, leading to conservation efforts to preserve the population.

The Powelliphanta augusta, a large carnivorous snail endemic to New Zealand and classified as a threatened species, has been filmed for the first time laying an egg from its neck. This rare event occurred at the Hokitika Snail Housing facility where conservation rangers have been caring for the snail population for nearly two decades to save them from extinction. The species was previously threatened by mining activities that destroyed its natural habitat.

• What: Footage captured of Powelliphanta augusta snail laying an egg from its neck.
• Who: Powelliphanta augusta snails, Lisa Flanagan (Department of Conservation), conservation rangers, energy company involved in mining.
• When: Footage captured on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. Conservation efforts have been ongoing for nearly two decades. Mining controversy in the early 2000s. Accidental deaths in 2011. Population count in March 2024.
• Where: Hokitika Snail Housing facility, Hokitika, New Zealand; West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand.

The filming of the Powelliphanta augusta laying an egg from its neck is a significant event, providing valuable insights into the reproductive habits of this threatened species. The conservation efforts to save the species are crucial, given its slow reproductive rate and vulnerability to habitat loss and accidental deaths. The political controversy surrounding mining activities underscores the importance of protecting the snail's habitat. The accidental deaths in 2011 highlight the challenges in maintaining the captive population.

It’s remarkable that in all the time we’ve spent caring for the snails, this is the first time we’ve seen one lay an egg.

The unprecedented footage of *Powelliphanta augusta* laying an egg from its neck underscores the critical need for continued and expanded conservation efforts for this Nationally Critical species. Habitat loss due to open-cast coal mining remains a primary threat, exacerbated by climate change and predation by introduced mammals. These factors contribute to the species' slow reproductive rate, with snails taking eight years to reach sexual maturity and laying only about five eggs per year. Captive breeding programs and translocation efforts are essential, though not without challenges, as evidenced by past accidental deaths and the difficulty of recreating suitable habitats. Long-term monitoring, coupled with innovative research techniques, is vital to assess the effectiveness of conservation strategies and to fully understand the complex life cycle and ecological needs of this unique invertebrate. Protecting the genetic diversity and improving habitat connectivity are key to ensuring the long-term survival of *Powelliphanta augusta* in the face of ongoing environmental pressures.