(JOE) RAT SIZED SPIDERS RELEASED

Thousands of rare spiders the size of rats have been released across the UK by a 15-year long conservation project.

The Fen Raft Spider was on the verge of extinction in the UK just 15 years ago, but now – thanks to the hard work of conservationists – up to 3,750 breeding females have been recorded at 12 sites in Norfolk alone.

Now, estimates suggest that the spider’s population has surged into the thousands with 10,000 breeding females, thanks to the hard work of conservationists at Chester Zoo.

The spider’s numbers had dwindled just over a decade ago due to a lack of wetland habitats, however, the spider that can range from the size of a human’s palm to a rat, has made a staggering return to Britain’s ecosystem.

However, thanks to a remarkable project at Chester Zoo to hand rear thousands of the spiders in individual test tubes to prevent cannibalism and reintroduce them into the wild, they are back. More of this article (JOE) - link - more like this (insects) - link