Protestors show solidarity with a snail

A group of conservationists protesting at plans for a West Coast coal mine climbed a mountain yesterday to show solidarity with a giant carnivorous snail, which they say will be driven to extinction by the project.

Fifteen members of the Save Happy Valley Coalition climbed 1000m to the Mt Augustus ridgeline, north-east of Westport, the last remaining habitat of powelliphanta augustus.

State-owned company Solid Energy, which wants to mine the ridge, has applied to the Department of Conservation for permission to move 100 of the snails by hand - and the rest by heavy machinery, such as bulldozers.

There are just 500 snails left on the 4ha area.