By MONIQUE DEVEREUX
They are the sumo wrestlers of the snail world, as big as a man's fist and able to out-slide then suck up unsuspecting slugs and worms like humans eat spaghetti.
Most people have never seen one but they live in native forests all over New Zealand and rate as
one of the biggest snails in the world.
Of the 72 species and sub-species of the Powelliphanta snail 40 are considered to be of national conservation concern, prompting the launch of a Government initiative to save them from further depletion.
But being a tasty treat for possums, pigs and rats means the population base of the giant snails is on a slippery slide.
They are found mainly in the top left-hand corner of the South Island, and the mountain range northwest of Nelson is home to the biggest range of the species.
For the past 10 years Department of Conservation snail scientist Kath Walker has been developing plans to help the Powelliphanta survive.
Yesterday Conservation Minister Chris Carter launched 40 recovery plans - for each species in need of help - as part of a Government biodiversity strategy.
It will take 20 years to get all 40 species to an ecologically viable level but it can be done - a pest control programme in one area near Motueka helped the population increase by five times.
Mr Carter said the giant snails were a significant part of New Zealand's heritage "in the same way kiwi and kakapo are".
The snails can grow to 90mm across and sport a variety of colours in shades of red, brown, yellow and black.
Department of Conservation
Herald Feature: Conservation and Environment
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