Teachers clear giant African snails daily as infestation spreads beyond farms in India

Monsoon rains have left Kerala, India, with a spreading snail problem. Giant African snails are now being found not only in fields and house compounds but also on school campuses in parts of the state.

Here's what to know

According to The South First, outbreaks have been reported in Malappuram, Kottayam, Thrissur, Idukki, and Kannur in India, where damp monsoon weather created favorable conditions for the snail to multiply quickly.

Beyond crop damage, the fast-breeding snail introduced from Mauritius is raising worries about cleanliness, public health, and the safety of children in shared spaces. Experts also view the species as a public health issue as it may carry disease-linked organisms, including the rat lungworm parasite.

Kerala Agricultural University says early containment is critical, and the snail's ability to feed on more than 500 plant species adds to the urgency. The university has called for joint action by the public, farmers, local bodies, and state departments.

The infestation is no longer confined to agricultural land. In Thirunavaya panchayat in Malappuram, school grounds have also been affected, with snails appearing on playgrounds, boundary walls, and areas near classrooms. Teachers have been clearing them every day, and students have been instructed not to touch them.

More background

Native to Africa, the giant African snail has spread across tropical and subtropical regions. The South First said it was first recorded in India in West Bengal in 1847, and that controlling it has been especially difficult because it reproduces rapidly and thrives in warm, moist conditions.

People in residential areas have reported seeing the snails on roadside walls, in drains, around wells, and inside house compounds.

The agricultural risk is particularly severe as the pest can damage vegetables, fruit plants, rubber, coffee, and cardamom, becoming a serious problem for cardamom plantations in multiple wards of Bison Valley panchayat in Idukki.

What can be done?

Kerala Agricultural University recommends sanitation as the first line of defense. Remove weeds, crop residue, fallen leaves, organic waste, old sacks, and household garbage from farms, homesteads, poultry units, and public spaces to limit hiding places and egg-laying sites.

The university is also pushing for community monitoring and organized collection drives. The South First says panchayat-level pest scout teams have been proposed to identify hotspots before the infestation spreads further, and a KAU team cited Ezhukone panchayat in Kollam as an example where farmers and local authorities coordinated successfully to control the pest.

For households and farmers, collection is most effective in the early morning or evening, when the snails are more active. Use gloves, then kill the snails in a 25% salt solution or bury them in deep pits away from water sources after treatment.

Traps made with wheat flour, jaggery, and yeast may also help bring down snail numbers. It has also been advised to carefully clean machinery, planting material, and vehicles so the pest is not carried into new areas.

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