With the conference "Origin, distribution and risks of the African Giant Snail (Lissachatina fulica)", given by Luis Álvarez-Lajonchere Ponce de León, the plan of academic activities was concluded in San Antonio de los Baños, on the occasion of World Environment Day. Representatives of different organizations attended the conference, sponsored by the Ariguanabo Foundation (FUNDAR).
Luis Álvarez-Lajonchere Ponce de León, a well-known researcher, explained the risks of this invasive species for endemic fauna, crops and human health. He referred to its worldwide distribution and its gradual entry to the Americas, the Caribbean and Cuba, as well as to the research carried out on the Island in order to know its incidence, its close connection with some religious practices and the vulnerable places for its reproduction.
''We are talking about an invasive species that can lay 1 200 eggs, per year. They are protected by a hard and very resistant shell. They bury the eggs and protect them, showing that their reproduction is successful, we could even say that almost half of them become adults, something that is not very common in molluscs'', Álvarez-Lajonchere said when referring to their characteristics.
Given the increasing proliferation of the snail, they called on the population to contribute to the control and elimination of the snail, one of the 100 most harmful invasive alien species in the world. The first measure is the destruction of the shell. It should be hermetically sealed in a nylon bag, crushed and buried. Alternatively, they can be burned safely, or submerged in a 3 percent salt or lime solution (3 tablespoons per liter of water) for 24 hours and then buried.
Ponce de León said that this mollusk is not edible, nor should it be marketed, dispersed, offered to Afro-Cuban deities or used as pets. In case of direct contact with the snail slime, he recommended washing your hands immediately with water and soap. He also suggested implementing a hygienic-sanitary system at home when washing food.
The outstanding researcher Giraldo Alayón, said that the conference is a starting point for the population to know and contribute to control this plague -one of the ten worst in the world-. This animal was introduced in Cuba irresponsibly and now it is up to us to join, because here there are several factors that promote its development, among them: the Ariguanabo River and the relative humidity (80 percent) throughout the year; In addition, the municipality is built on top of a Carso rock, which is very favorable for its development.
Despite the impact caused by the African giant snail, in Cuba, so far, no major damage to crops has been reported, however, they can feed on nearly 500 species. The challenge is surveillance. If we collaborate together, we could reduce the negative impact on the human being, the high reproduction rate, the ability to adapt to the environment and the use of different sources of food.
