Indigenous Rangers Rediscover Critically Endangered Darling River Snail at NSW Weir, Highlighting Decades of Ecological Cost from Government Water Infrastructure

On the Barwon River in western New South Wales, Australia, a team of Indigenous rangers discovered approximately 50 live Darling River snails beneath a weir near Walgett — the first time in decades the species has been observed in this area, with the population confirmed to be located more than 700 kilometers from the previously known populations at the Wilcannia and Louth weirs.

According to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reports, the Ngarrangarra-li Walariba Indigenous rangers at Walgett had the discovery formally confirmed by the Australian Museum in September this year. The team is supported by the Dhariwa Elders group. Thirty-one-year-old ranger Taylin Hickey had never personally seen a Darling River snail in the wild before. He described the experience as "surreal," and said he was initially even a little nervous, unsure whether they had found the correct species.

The discovery also carries an interrupted personal memory. Fifty-six-year-old senior ranger John Sands recalls seeing the snails often while swimming in the Namoi River (a tributary of the Barwon-Darling) as a child, but has not spotted one in the wild in more than 30 years. "I'm really excited, because I always believed they were still there," he said.

The Darling River snail had been widely believed to be extinct until late 2024, when populations were confirmed in the weirs at Wilcannia and Louth. The construction of weirs and irrigation systems since the 1960s has been cited by ecologists as one of the main factors driving the species' decline. Charles Sturt University river ecologist Martin Mallen-Cooper described the latest discovery at Walgett as "incredibly exciting," and noted that emerging snail colonies had also previously been observed inside the Louth and Tilpa weirs, opening a window on the possibility of "artificial habitat."

"This is a ray of hope — you can create habitat, increase water flows, and then bring some of these species back," Professor Mallen-Cooper said.

However, the rangers expressed clear concerns about whether this newly emerging population could survive. Hickey pointed out that the snails were found at the bottom of the weir near flowing water. "We're worried that algal blooms, warm water and reduced runoff won't have an impact on them," he said. "We're absolutely terrified the snails might disappear again."

A spokesperson for the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said in a statement that the state government is conducting "critical dietary analysis" on the species and is "working with traditional landowners on translocation and reintroduction projects." But the department did not release any timetable, phased targets or funding arrangements. The Narrandera Fisheries Centre, located in the Riverina, is currently keeping approximately 4,000 snails, all bred from 2,200 snails rescued from the Louth weir. In addition, there are attempts to reintroduce underwater "snags" to river sections — these previously cleared tree stumps and stone ridges were once natural habitat for aquatic life.

The Walgett population includes dozens of young and old shell samples, indicating that the snails have been breeding at the site. Professor Mallen-Cooper said the discovery further supports the habitat restoration research noted above. "Here's a threatened species surviving and thriving in these tiny habitats," he said. "This is an absolute ray of light, and we should build on it."

The rangers are also planning to explore a second site nearby — last week they found an empty snail shell on a riverbank.