Virtual Kahaukani Conversations – Kāhuli 2

Registration is now open for part 2 of our Kahaukani Conversations Celebrating Kāhuli for Monte Cooke’s Birthday.

David Sischo, coordinator of the DLNR’s Snail Extinction Prevention Program (SEPP), will present a broad overview of the conservation techniques employed by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) and their partners across the state, highlighting recent conservation successes they’ve had working with Hawaiian land snails, one of the most imperiled groups of organisms on the plant.

Jan Kealoha, from Bishop Museum, will present a historical overview of the Bishop Museum Captive Rearing program and review of what is needed to continue the conservation for the remaining land snails as over-collection, habitat destruction, invasive species, and climate change have dramatically reduced Hawaiian land snail diversity. The few remaining species are the last hope for restoring some of this spectacular land snail fauna.

About the Speakers

David Sischo is a Wildlife Biologist with the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, specializing in the conservation of rare and endangered terrestrial mollusks. He has coordinated the Snail Extinction Prevention Program since its founding in 2012, overseeing field operations and a captive-rearing laboratory with over 40 species from five islands.

Jan Kealoha is the Bishop Museum Captive Rearing Coordinator and has been overseeing the captive rearing program and training students and volunteers to save Hawaii’s remaining snails.

This presentation will take place over Zoom. Please register below and a link will be emailed prior to the presentation.