The creepy crawlies were specially bred in test tubes and their liberators are excited to report that it is mating season meaning and there are more than 10,000 breeding females across the country.
Thousands of giant spiders 'the size of a human hand' are on the loose in the UK after a zoo decided to let them run free.
The raft spiders' legs are covered in tiny hairs and a decade ago more than 10,000 breeding females were released across the UK Fen raft spiders are semi-aquatic spiders, named for their ability to run across the surface of the water to catch their prey.Their legs are covered in tiny hairs that detect the slightest of vibrations on the water's surface which they can run across to capture their prey.
A female raft spider on moss in bog. The RSPB estimate there are 10,000 breeding females across the UK - the 'best year on record'Chester Zoo said: 'Our team delicately hand fed tiny flies to each of the hundreds of spiderlings using tweezers, day in, day out, for weeks on end in our bio-secure breeding facility.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Chester Zoo captures footage of rare anoa calf birthConservationists say only about 2,500 of the world's smallest cattle species remain in the wild.
Read more »
See video of extremely rare and 'misunderstood' animal's birth and first steps at Chester ZooHidden cameras at a zoo have captured remarkable footage from the birth of one of the world's smallest species of wild cattle - for the very first time.
Read more »
Chester: Daniel Day-Lewis film shoot ticketed by traffic wardensFilming for a new feature starring the triple Oscar-winner is taking place in Handbridge in Chester.
Read more »
Cheshire West and Chester: Low income pensioners could get £200 from councilCheshire West and Chester Council says it plans to 'bridge the gap' after winter fuel payment changes.
Read more »
Stories of Chester's 'foundling' children told for first timeThousands of 18th Century documents have been published in a searchable online archive.
Read more »
Future of £14.5m Chester House heritage site to be discussedMore than £200,000 is awarded to look at whether the tourist destination should be handed to a trust.
Read more »