Pink velvet worm  (Opisthopatus roseus)

The Ngele Forest in which the pink velvet worm lives was heavily logged in the early 1900s, after a private sawmill was built nearby in 1891 (1). The remaining forest is patchy and continues to be destroyed as exotic plantations are planted around and right up to the edges of the indigenous forest, the harvesting of which is greatly disruptive to the forest (1). Timber plantations are also associated with a high level of invasion by alien plants. The construction of a national road through Ngele Forest has fragmented habitat and potentially populations of the pink velvet worm.

Although a permit is required to collect any animals from the province and some degree of habitat protection has been given by the State, access to the area where this species occurs remains relatively uncontrolled (1). Future conservation measures advocated include a publicity campaign to raise awareness of the species, and further research on population numbers, range and biology of the species (1). Fortunately, five specimens are currently thriving in captivity in Hamburg, providing the opportunity to study their life cycle, reproduction and feeding behaviour (6). Although this captive population safeguards the survival of the species for the time being, more needs to be done to protect the pink velvet worm’s diminishing, restricted habitat if this ancient, unusual and elusive species has any chance of surviving in the wild.