Rare, endangered pink slug in Australia survives bushfires

30 Jan 2020

Rare, endangered pink slug in Australia survives bushfires

Rare, endangered pink slug in Australia survives bushfiresAustralia's bushfires have been devastating on the environment and wildlife, impacting almost a billion creatures in one way or another.

However, one piece of good news has emerged. A rare slug species, thought to have died out in the wildfires, has been found alive.

What is this rare species of slug?

It is a bright pink slug species called Mount Kaputar slugs, which measure about 7.9 inches in length.
 	It is found only on one mountain in Australia - Mount Kaputar, an isolated inactive volcano in New South Wales.
 	It is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. The slugs' habitat is also vulnerable to climate change.

Rangers from New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service have reported that "about 60" Mount Kaputar slugs have been found alive.

These slugs play an important role in the ecosystem. They break down the plant litter into nutrient-rich soil to promote plant growth. They also serve as food for birds and other animals.

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