According to the Seychelles Islands Foundation, a snail earlier considered to be extinct has been found again "alive and well". The Aldabra banded snail became extinct seven years ago and was found again on August 23 at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean island nation of Seychelles.

Last week, a research team from the Seychelles Islands Foundation found seven of the purple-and-pink striped snails on Aldabra atoll's Malabar Island. The initial discovery was made by Shane Brice, a junior skipper on the voyage. Brice said he was so surprised that no one had ever seen the snail before.

The discovery was confirmed after Mollusk experts Vincent Florens and Pat Matyot studied the discovery team's photos. The snail experiences many pressures in Aldabra atoll. The isolated atoll is the home to the major population of huge tortoises in the world and it provides opportunities to study evolution and biodiversity.

Conservationists are uncertain how a terrestrial snail such as the Aldabra banded snail reached these hot dry islands surrounded by saltwater without drying out. Catherina Onezia, a senior ranger and assistant training officer for the foundation, said that to study the snail's expedition, efforts will be increased by her team on Malabar Island.

Justin Gerlach, biologist and scientific coordinator for the Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles said, the snail's demise was connected to declining rainfall on Aldabra and was broadly considered to be among the first species whose extinction could be directly linked to global warming. The last young snail was found in 1976.

"Only time will tell if they can survive the threats of climate change and sea level rise", Gerlach said.

According to the Seychelles Islands Foundation, the discovery of a few young snails is encouraging as they are thought to be mainly susceptible to desiccation because of lower rainfall in the region.