Chester Zoo has played a pivotal part in bringing the UK’s largest spider – the fen raft spider – back from the brink of extinction. A conservation breeding programme, launched in 2011, has led to a recovery of this unique species which now boasts over 10,000 breeding females across the country. The fen raft spider, a semi-aquatic predator that can grow to the size of an adult human palm, is distinguished by a striking white stripe along its body.
Despite its imposing appearance, the spider is harmless to humans and plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of wetland habitats. The species’ numbers had dwindled dramatically 15 years ago due to the destruction of its wetland environment, leaving it on the verge of extinction. In response to this ecological crisis, Chester Zoo joined forces with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to establish a conservation breeding programme aimed at saving the fen raft spider.
In 2011, experts at Chester Zoo began rearing hundreds of baby spiders in individual test tubes to prevent them from eating each other, a natural behavior among the species. “We had to carefully feed each spiderling tiny flies using tweezers,” a spokesperson from Chester Zoo explained. “It was a meticulous process that required weeks of daily attention in our bio-secure breeding facility.
” Once the young spiders were strong enough, they were released back into their restored natural habitat. The collaborative effort bet.