African land snails these are the largest land snail in the world. It is not uncommon for one to grow to be 20cm long. Kept as pets in the West for their sedate nature, they are seen as one of the world’s most invasive species in their native area of West Africa. They can destroy crops and livelihoods, and can create up to 1000 offspring each per year. They are often captured and used for food in this region. Regarded as a delicacy, they are fed a special diet to clean them out, and then de-shelled and cleaned with alum before cooking.
