Britain is reportedly experiencing a surge in the population of a gargantuan spider species capable of growing to the size of a human hand.
The once-endangered Fen Raft spider has seen a dramatic resurgence after painstaking conservation efforts. Observant staff at Chester Zoo took it upon themselves to spearhead a spider revival.
A decade ago, they reintroduced thousands of them into the wild. Although they typically hunt across water surfaces, some Fen Raft spiders have ventured into homes.
Chester Zoo has revealed that the reintroduction programme has been a success, with an estimated 10,000 females now fertile and thriving – a record for the UK’s spider population.
A statement from the zoo said: “Ten years ago we helped release thousands of giant spiders back into the UK!
“The Fen Raft spiders were bred right here at the zoo, and we’re super happy to report there are now more than 10,000 breeding females and they’ve just had the biggest mating season on record!
“Our team delicately hand fed tiny flies to each of the hundreds of spiderlings using tweezers, day in, day out, for weeks on end in our bio-secure breeding facility.
“Eventually, the young spiders grew strong enough to be returned to their natural habitat, which our partners worked to restore, and we released them in their hundreds!”
The zoo also stressed that despite their intimidating size, Fen Raft spiders pose no threat to humans and they’re actually an integral part of aquatic ecosystems.
The spiders are distinguishable by their brown or dark cigar-shaped bodies adorned with a white, cream, or yellow stripe on each side.
These semi-aquatic creatures boast long legs covered in fine hairs, which they use to sense vibrations on the water’s surface before launching an attack on their prey.
Unlike the common house spider that relies on webs to ensnare insects, Fen Raft spiders have a more aggressive approach to hunting.
Their diet is varied and includes other spiders, damselflies, dragonfly larvae, pond skaters, and they’re even known to prey on fish and tadpoles.
