The Shelled Sanctuary needs our help and support!
The Shelled Sanctuary is an incredible rescue founded and operated by one individual dedicated to saving Giant African Land Snails (GALS) by providing them specialized care and by spreading awareness of their plight. In their own words, they are "a sanctuary for the loved, unloved, and misunderstood snails that get passed down to me due to rehomes, rescues, etc."
Here are some excerpts from one of their posts that best sum up the sanctuary's mission:
"These animals are far more than 'kids pets' like they are too often treated as, and deserve just as much respect as any other exotic animal.
Giant african land snails, while beautiful, are often neglected to the point they die far earlier than they would naturally or with correct care, meaning many pass away before they are even 5 years old! This is partially due to incorrect care, accidental neglect, and also due to these lovely animals being marketed as 'children's pets' - something most children cannot meet the needs for let alone afford everything alone/without help from a parent/guardian.
Giant african land snails are also the victim of the illegal exotic pet trade in some countries, especially where they are native to. Most that are wild and not CB die in transport- or are bought by people who do not know how to care for wild snails, let alone a captive bred one. This has unfortunately meant people often illegally buy them in places they are banned, meaning authorities end up killing these magnificent animals due to people's greed.
Help me spread awareness of these beautiful animals and follow the stories of each individual snail here, 'Because the Shelled Need Love Too!' 🐌"
Recently, a large influx of neglected GALS came into the sanctuary — in dire need of care, treatment, and shelter. The sanctuary explained in a recent post:
"the neglect case snails have almost all taken a turn for the worst, and while they are alright for now- new soils, foods, etc are needed as soon as possible, which often isn't cheap for 40+ individuals! 😬
Some of the snails have also developed signs of DRS [Deep Retraction Syndrome], meaning their lifespan could be shortened as a result 💔."