New Zealand Campaign Seeks Mate for Rare Left-Coiled Snail

Ned, a common garden snail in New Zealand, faces a rare and challenging predicament due to his shell coiling to the left, a trait found in only 1 in 40,000 snails. This left-coiling causes his sex organs to misalign with those of the majority right-coiling snails, making it nearly impossible for him to find a compatible mate unless another lefty snail is discovered. Giselle Clarkson, a nature enthusiast and author, found Ned in her garden and initiated a nationwide campaign through New Zealand Geographic to find him a suitable partner, drawing attention to his unique situation. Despite widespread public interest and encouragement, Ned's search for love has been slow and complicated by strict biosecurity measures that limit the possibility of bringing in snails from abroad. Snails are hermaphrodites, possessing both eggs and sperm, but mating requires physical compatibility, which Ned currently lacks with local snails. For now, Ned lives in a tank under Clarkson's care, symbolizing hope and the difficulties faced by rare genetic mutations in the natural world.