For anyone with arachnophobia, the idea of giant spiders roaming free in the UK might sound terrifying unless it’s a large-scale conservation drive.
Thanks to a successful conservation effort by the UK’s Chester Zoo and the RSPB, thousands of hand-sized fen raft spiders are now thriving across UK wetlands.
Once nearly extinct due to habitat loss, these unique spiders were bred in controlled conditions to rebuild their population.
Hand-Sized Spiders in the UK
Each spider was carefully reared and fed in test tubes to prevent them from eating their buddies and allowing them to grow and eventually be released into restored wetland habitats.
Now, a decade later, there are an estimated 10,000 breeding females — with this year marking their largest mating season yet.
These spiders play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems, feeding on small insects rather than spinning webs.
Despite their size, fen raft spiders are harmless and recognizable by the distinctive white stripes along their bodies.
