Conservation efforts bring UK's largest spider back from extinction
Chester Zoo has worked with the RSPB to increase the spider's population
Last updated 24th Aug 2024
The UK's largest species of spider has been brought back from near extinction thanks to intensive conservation efforts.
Fern raft spiders are harmless to humans, but can grow to the size of a human palm or a small rat.
However, by the year 2009, the number of fern rafter spiders had dropped to almost zero, as a result of the destruction of their natural habitat.
Often seen thriving in marshy wetlands, the spider was threatened with total extinction until 2011 when Chester Zoo undertook conservation plans to help the species repopulate.
From 2011, the zoo - working together with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) - has been hand-rearing hundreds of baby fern rafters in individual test tubes.
Each spider was hand-fed flies using tweezers for days on end to ensure the future of the species, which is now thriving thanks to the programme.
According to the latest figures, some 10,000 breeding females have been recorded across the UK - with the species being declared to have their best year on record.
After the work of rearing the spiders, the animals were eventually able to return to their natural habitat that had been restored by the RSPB.
Speaking on the initiative, RSPB Mid Yare nature reserves site manager Tim Strudwick said that it was great to see the success of the scheme.
"These spiders have an important role in maintaining the rich aquatic diversity found in the grazing ditches on our reserves," he said.
"The females are impressive in size, but also beautiful – they are truly special to see!”