Wayward snails

Two pages in The Southland Times (October 8) gave an account of snails which live in such isolation sightings of them were only recorded in 1996 by a group of botanists with very little to occupy their time who came across them while roaming the Stockton Plateau and reported their findings.

DOC was not very concerned; filed away the information and promptly forgot it.

That was until Solid Energy wanted to expand part of its production which was opposed by environmentalists because of it would disturb of the native habitat of these little known snails.

The court ruled that they had to be rehoused as there were only a few hundred of them but it took a few years to shift them at a cost of 50,000 years back then, paid by the taxpayer.

There were more than 1000 plus a large number of eggs. They are now held in large fridges.

They could never be promoted as a tourist attraction They are unproductive, unlikely to be bred as a gourmet food line so never contribute anything to the economy.

Even though they carry a shell around on their backs they are still housed.

In your public opinion the other week there were comments on senior citizen’s plight because of lack of funds, while this sort of expenses is covered by the taxpayer. We should let nature take care of whales, bird life, fish, old ships and snails and put the funds where they are most needed. What more needs to be said?

Jim Fish