Caught trying to escape at snail’s pace

Staff at a Brisbane container yard were surprised this week when they found a snail the size of a cricket ball moving across the cement.

The staff member at the container yard took responsible action by containing the snail and calling local DAFF biosecurity officers who identified the snail as a Giant African Snail; an exotic pest with a ferocious appetite capable of destroying vegetable crops, fruit trees and Australia’s native eucalypt forests.

DAFF found no further evidence when they inspected the container yard, but will continue precautionary surveillance over the coming week.

Acting Regional Manager, Paul Nixon, said that industry reporting and the destruction of the pest was a part of Australia’s biosecurity system at work.

“Post-border detections are an important part of Australia’s biosecurity system which works offshore, at the border and onshore as seen in this case,” Mr Nixon said.

If you find a suspicious pest that you believe could be exotic, particularly when receiving goods from overseas, you should secure them where safe to do so and report it to DAFF on 1800 020 504.