Cuban and British scientists work together to protect the snails from Polymita tree, famous for their colorful shells, but threatened by illegal trade and the loss of habitat in eastern Cuba.
The project, led by Professor Bernardo Reyes-Tur of the University of the East in Santiago de Cuba and Professor Angus Davison of the University of Nottingham, seeks Point out A report from BBC News.
These shells, coveted by collectors, are sold on international platforms, as in the United Kingdom, where a collection of seven reaches 160 pounds.
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Although the Convention on International Commerce of Endangered Species prohibits exporting them without permission, their trade outside Cuba is legal, which, together with climate change and deforestation, pushes these species towards extinction.
In Cuba, Reyes-Tur faces challenges as frequent blackouts to raise snails in captivity in his home, while in Nottingham, Davison analyzes the genome of the polyma in advanced laboratories to identify species, their relationships and the genes behind their color patterns.
This information seeks to strengthen conservation strategies. “East of Cuba is the only place where these snails live,” said Davison, highlighting the urgency of protecting them before they disappear.
The international project combines local experience with genetic technology, but no deadlines for concrete results or measures to strengthen the application of international regulations were needed.
