Watch out for crabs crossing the highway: Kenting park

Hundreds of the crabs will cross Provincial Highway 1 in the town to spawn on the seashore beginning July 7 or July 8 this year and continuing to late October, the high season for land crabs to spawn, park rangers told reporters.

As the highway separates the land crabs' normal habitat from their spawning grounds, the crustaceans used to be crushed by passing vehicles, which prompted the park administration to later enact traffic restrictions in the peak spawning season to protect the creatures.

The move is part of increasing efforts made by Taiwan's government and people in recent years to protect animals and the environment.

The highway runs along Kenting's Banana Bay, the part of which near Oluanpi is the main spawning area for the crabs.

Rangers on Monday reminded motorists to be extra careful when driving on that part of the highway at night from July to October. During this period, female crabs loaded with eggs make their way across the highway down to the sea to spawn at night time.

Along the highway at Banana Bay, a public traffic sign has been erected warning motorists to "Watch out for land crabs and drive slowly."

According to a research study conducted by an academic institute several years ago, 25 different species of land crabs live near the Banana Bay area, making it the No. 1 place in the world in terms of the diversity of land crab species.

"The number of species has increased to 28 now, thanks to conservation measures," the rangers said.

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