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Zoo celebrates release of thousands of ‘giant spiders’ that can grow as big as your hand
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Zoo celebrates release of thousands of ‘giant spiders’ that can grow as big as your hand

THE Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom shared a remarkable conservation an important step that could help people rethink their feelings towards spiders!

In a recent social media post, the zoo revealed it was celebrating a decade since the successful release of thousands of giant swamp raft spiders in the United Kingdom.

Once balanced on the on the verge of extinctionthese arachnids have made a tremendous return to the country, and the zoo enthusiastically shared the exciting news with the world.

Chester Zoo has celebrated the tenth anniversary of the release of thousands of giant swamp spiders into the UK.

Image credits: Chester Zoo

“Ten years ago, we helped release THOUSANDS of Giant spiders back to the UK! » read the one from the zoo social media post last week.

“Swamp spiders were bred right here at the zoo, and we are very excited to report that there are now over 10,000 breeding females…and they just experienced the largest breeding season on record! ” the message continued.

“You can’t miss them, they’re the size of your hand!” Honestly, you’re welcome,” they joked.

This impressive recovery was born out of necessity, as these spiders were on the verge of extinction. extinction.

Hundreds of baby spiders were carefully placed in individual test tubes and fed by hand as part of the conservation effort.

Image credits: Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images

Fen’s raft spiders were facing a drastic decline due to the destruction of their wetland habitats, the England Zoo said in a statement released in August. press release.

To combat this, a team of experts from Chester Zoo have launched a rescue program in conjunction with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

They painstakingly collected hundreds of baby spiders and carefully placed them in individual test tubes to ensure their survival and ensure they didn’t eat each other for breakfast.

The RSPB believes that there is 10,000 breeding females across the UK about a decade after the release of the spiders

“Our team delicately hand-fed tiny flies to each of hundreds of spiders using forceps, day after day, for weeks in our bio-secure breeding facility,” reads the article. zoo press release.

“Eventually, the young spiders grew strong enough to return to their natural habitat, which our partners worked to restore, and we released them by the hundreds! adds the press release.

A decade and a half later, the the zoo is proud to announce that there are 10,000 breeding females across the UK, according to RSPB estimates.

“These spiders play an important role in maintaining the rich aquatic diversity…,” said RSPB Mid Yare Nature Reserves Site Manager Tim Strudwick.

Image credits: LTapsaH / Pixabay

Although these spiders can grow to the size of a human palm tree, the zoo has assured people that they are harmless to humans and play an important role in maintaining the swamp ecosystems in which they are typically found.

“These spiders play an important role in maintaining the rich aquatic diversity found in pasture ditches on our reserves. The females are impressive in their size, but also beautiful – they are truly special to see! said Tim Strudwick, RSPB Mid Yare Nature Reserves site manager.

The position Zoo celebrates release of thousands of ‘giant spiders’ that can grow as big as your hand first appeared on Bored panda.