On Tuesday 26th June, 2018 a team of The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) volunteers led by Ms. Nikita Samlal, President of the “Waking up Agriculture Movement” (WAM), and Dr. Marcus Ramdwar, Faculty Liaison for WAM, organised a collection and eradication drive for the Giant African Snail (GAS) in the Orange Grove farming district.  The WAM is a student-led community outreach group whose core objective is to foster the sensitisation of agricultural-related activities towards future food security. Currently, several farming districts are being impacted by the Giant African Snail.  Since one snail has the potential to produce 1,200 offspring per year, the impact of any collection and eradiation drive will go a long way towards reducing the population levels of this very destructive pest. The snails are active during the rainy season and as part of WAM’s agenda to assist farming communities, the group of volunteers was able to remove over 4,000 snails from the Orange Grove Farming District.

This activity is part of an on-going initiative aimed at reducing the population of the Giant African Snail.  It is also the intention of WAM to encourage other groups to become aware of the urgent need to control the population of the Giant African Snail and to embark upon their own collection and eradication efforts. In light of this, WAM is willing to share our collection protocol with individuals who are interested in assisting with the control of this pest.  

Right to left (front row): Dr. Marcus Ramdwar, Ms. Nikita Samlal, Mr. Malcolm Gajadhar, Ms. Celine Sooklalsingh, Mr. Realdo Sookhoo, Mr. Kumar Sooklal and Mr. Robert Ramcharan. Right to left (back row): Mr. Jesse Harripersad, Mr. Jimmy Ramlogan, Mr. Geron Lezama, Mr. Isaiah Ash, Ms. Jeniece George and Mr. Isaiah Letren.

Ms. Nikita Samlal and Mr. Jesse Harripersad make their first deposit of snails.

Mr. Isaiah Letren makes his second deposit.

Mr. Sooklal and his team work assiduously searching for the GAS.

Mr. Jimmy Ramlogan bags the first thousand GAS

One of the mature snails collected.

Ms. Sooklalsingh makes her third deposit.

Mr. Lezama happily makes his third deposit.

The student volunteers collect snails from the road.

Two thousand snails collected.

Dr. Ramdwar tops off this bucket.

Many snails were found under a tree.

Many snails were collected from dumping sites.

After four (4) hours the task was complete.

Mr. Sookhoo examines the snails before they were destroyed.

The collected snails.

The group of volunteers proudly display their contribution to the reduction efforts of the GAS.