Endangered spider finds a home in Yorkshire
IT IS a species rarer than pandas, lions and elephants, with only several thousand adults left in the wild.
Now one of the world’s most endangered spiders can be found near York as part of a conservation breeding programme to help prevent it from becoming extinct.
Askham Bryan College’s wildlife park has joined the European Endangered Species Programme for the Desertas wolf spider, which is co-ordinated by Bristol Zoo.
It is thought that there is only a single population of 4,000 adults left in the wild, which are found in one valley on the Deserta Grande Island, near Madeira, and are under threat due to habitat loss. Classified as ‘critically endangered’, these spiders are forming part of a ‘safety net’ population within European zoological collections.
A world first took place this summer when the spiders were bred as part of the programme at Bristol Zoo, and now more than four dozen spiderlings have been safely delivered to Askham Bryan where they are under the care of the wildlife park manager, Caroline Howard.
She said: “We are absolutely delighted to take part in this hugely important conservation programme.
“In addition our students and visitors have the opportunity to see and learn about one of the most endangered spiders on earth.
“At present, the spiderlings are tiny, about 4mm in diameter, but they will grow to be impressive looking adults, up to 12cm in size.”
The initiative has particular significance for one of the college’s students, 20-year-old Ryan Stringer, who has chosen the captive environment of the Desertas wolf spider for his dissertation as part of his zoo management degree. Ryan is playing a key role in the care of the spiderlings.