Page 66 - World of Animals - Issue #33

Giant African land snail

Invasion of the plant munchers

Giant African land snails have slithered far beyond their home continent

Giant African land snails originally evolved The snail’s reputation as an agricultural pest through their food supply. Our pets aren’t
to live in the humid forests of Kenya and and disease spreader might not be unfounded, safe either: dogs have reportedly died after
Tanzania in East Africa, although their range but it is important to remember the reason for accidentally eating the parasite-infested pests.
has spread much further than this. The hardy this creature’s unfortunate invasion. If people So what can be done? Eradicating the snails
gastropods have proven themselves to be had never introduced them to non-native from their new crawling grounds is possible,
experts at adapting to most warm climates, and countries as a food source and exotic pet, giant although admittedly tricky. Florida has been
populations can now be found throughout a African land snails would still be restricted to waging war against the molluscs since 2011,
large portion of the Southern Hemisphere. their original habitats in East Africa. when the leader of a small religious group
Countries inhabited by the giant African land And humans aren’t the only species who illegally smuggled snails into the state for a
snail currently include China, India, Japan, the have to worry about the snails affecting their mucus-drinking ritual. A multimillion dollar
US and Brazil. It has become widespread in lives. Due to their large size and perpetual campaign has eradicated more than 159,000
territories throughout South America and Asia, appetite for anything that grows out of the snails since then, but it would only take a few of

and is considered one of the 100 most invasive ground, giant African land snails pose a dire these prolific breeders left in the wild to cause
species in the world. threat to indigenous snail species by chomping another large scale infestation.

“Due to their perpetual

appetite, giant African land
snails pose a dire threat to

indigenous snails”

Invaded territory

The species has spread
far beyond east Africa

Current range

Native home

66