The highly invasive and rapidly proliferating Giant African Snails are marching on to more districts of Kerala, the Forest Research Institute of the State has warned. They could decimate standing crop and threaten the health of children, besides devouring calcium from house walls. The snails have grown from small populations to cover 125 locations in recent years, said T.V. Sajeev, scientist, KFRI.
“Considered one of 100 most invasive species in the world, Giant African Snails ( Achatina fulica ) feed on several plants. They destroy almost all crops and can live in a dormant state for 2-3 years. The snails are an intermediate host of the rat lung worm that causes oesinophilic meningitis in children below five years of age,” he said.
These large molluscs living close to humans and adult specimens can be 5-6 inches long and weigh 200-300 gm. A single snail lays about 200-500 eggs and 80 per cent of these survive.
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“The snail requires large amounts of calcium to maintain its big shell. As the soil in Kerala is poor in calcium content, the species utilise the calcium in compound walls and buildings, thus damaging them,” Dr. Sajeev said.
Eradication drive
Taking note of the health risk and serious impact on agriculture, the KFRI has initiated an eradication drive.
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Awareness classes in many districts, grama panchayats and municipalities such as Vadavannur, Eloor and North Paravoor and Muzhuppilangad on eradication are underway, the KFRI team said.The snail is dispersed through timber, ornamental plants, soil and manure. It sometimes hitchhikes on vehicles. In many sites, snail eradication has been successful with the help of local self-governments, the Kudumbasree Mission, the local community and the Health Department.
The snail damages crops including mulberry, betel vine, capsicum, areca, banana, tomato, vanilla, potato, spinach, radish and tomato, researchers writing in the Public Library of Science said.