Giant fen raft spiders thrive in UK with record mating season

Giant fen raft spiders, which can grow to the size of a human hand, are thriving in the UK due to a successful breeding program by Chester Zoo and the RSPB. This year marks their best mating season on record. Once on the brink of extinction, these harmless spiders have seen a population increase, with an estimated 10,000 breeding females now in the UK. They were hand-reared in a secure facility before being released into the wild. Fen raft spiders, also known as great raft spiders, inhabit unpolluted fens and marshes. They are recognized for their chocolate-brown bodies and ability to walk on water.