African Giant Snail in Chile: Origin, Arrival, and the Dangers It Poses

The Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) has confirmed the presence of the exotic mollusk, Lissachatina fulica, known as the African giant snail, in regions of northern Chile, prompting health authorities to issue a phytosanitary alert and take steps toward its eradication.

The African giant snail, which clandestinely entered Chile, is a direct threat to the ecosystem and even to humans. Despite only two specimens being recorded so far, their detection was enough for SAG to declare a phytosanitary alert in an effort to curb the mollusk’s reproduction and prevent it from becoming a pest. Esteban Valenzuela, Minister of Agriculture under the left-wing government of President Gabriel Boric, pointed fingers at the “irresponsible” parties who allowed the snail’s entrance and emphasized the necessity of its extermination. “We have to eradicate it. As this snail grows, it can dominate and eat entire areas, causing significant damage to ecosystems and agriculture,” he warned.

Native to Africa’s tropical and subtropical regions, Lissachatina fulica has a conical shell much larger than common snails, reaching up to 20 centimeters in length and 10 centimeters in diameter. This omnivorous species, being hermaphroditic, has a high likelihood of propagation. Given suitable environmental conditions, it can live up to 10 years. Over recent decades, specimens have been sighted in Europe, especially Spain, and the Americas, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, where it is considered an invasive species due to its effects on agriculture.

The SAG reported that the two African snails found in northern Chile were introduced in different ways. One was found in ornamental plants illegally imported into the Tarapacá region. The second specimen was found in the Arica and Parinacota region after tourists brought back a shell from Florianópolis, Brazil.

Authorities’ concern is primarily due to the snail’s impact on crops. The species can devour everything in its path, with vegetation being its preferred food, potentially destroying entire plantations. Its rapid reproduction presents a significant threat to food crops.

While the snail does not directly harm humans, its presence can lead to significant contamination. Direct contact with the snail’s secretions can cause diseases such as meningitis. The two specimens found in Chile, however, were not found to carry parasitic nematodes upon examination.

In response to the threat of the African giant snail, a government inspection plan has been put in place. Official inspectors have increased checks at open-air markets, plant depots, nurseries, florists, and tripartite fairs in the country’s northern region. In addition, SAG’s Canine Brigade dogs are being trained to detect species by scent. The community has also been urged not to consume irregularly harvested vegetable products.