As this great drought began so the snails climbed up to find protection on these aerial refugia.
Here they sit Buddha like in seeming deep contemplation of the encompassing ecology.
High up they are safe from the trampling hooves of the grazers of the Dehesa and here they will remain until the first rains bring the rebirth of the herbs and flowers.
Each finds its own perfect niche upon the slopes of the mountain, these are the hoops within hoops set in the great wheel of life.
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Photo: Hibernating snails at Saladaviciosa. Courtesy of the author.