Millions of red claw crabs spotted off Krabi beach 'should be protected'

Eakkapop Thongtub

KRABI: -- Officials have described the sighting of millions of red crabs off a beach near Baan Hinrao in Krabi’s Ao Luek district on Thursday (Mar 12), as a 'miracle of nature'.

At 10 am on Thursday, Ao Luek District Chief Boonpas Raknuy, along with Niwat Wattanayommanaporn, an “expert” from the Krabi Cultural and Environmental office, and officers from the Than Bok Khorani National Park, responded to a call to investigate the mass-sighting of red crabs reported by Baan Hinrao villagers.

Officials arrived to a sand dune area where the crabs had gathered in an unprecedented colony that was estimated to stretch one kilometre long by 30 meetrs wide.

They were mostly small crabs, measuring only 1 centimetre in width, with greyish body and bright

red orange claws, scattered along the beach, and estimated to be in the “millions”.

But when officials got too close, they all dispersed in unison, disappearing into the holes in the sand.

Based on the description, the crabs were most likely of the Perisesarma bidens species, or the red-clawed crab, which is a semi-aquatic crab found on beaches from Thailand to Hong Kong and in aquariums wordwide.

Nonetheless, many tourists and officials gathered to snap tons of photos of the “never before seen” spawning spectacle, which quickly circulated on social media channels.

Boonpas said it was a miracle of nature, signalling an abundance of life in nature.

“We are encouraging villagers to protect them and keep them here for natural tourism sight seeing for tourists since this area is close to Phi Hao Tor Cave,” he said.

It remains to be seen exactly to what extent the crabs will be protected considering that small crabs are a popular ingredient in many local dishes, including Somtam and other seafood flavoured “Yum” salads and soups.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/millions-of-red-claw-crabs-spotted-off-krabi-beach-should-be-protected-51409.php

-- Phuket News 2015-03-14

Hope they have a proper visa to enter the Kingdom.

As we speak, immigration officers are on their way to krabi to investigate them.

yep someone will come and collect them and sell to restaurants for a few bht ...nothing is spared to survive here ...tourist attraction ...Thainess thinking is "farangs who wants them "but complain when there is no tourists and it affect their livelihood... really I think they should be re-educated and change their outlook on Farangs ..without them you have no tourist industry

PTP future tellers will say the crabs are supporters of Yingluck.

A stretch of 1km and 30 meters wide. Sized 1cm and smaller.

Estimated :"millions" !

Translated : "Yam and Somtam" !

Derogation : "Should be protected" !

I once went with a Vietnamese girl who shared her crabs with me...it still makes me scratch my crotch when I think about it...

The little red crabs are of the Crustaceans, meaning they crush under the weight of wheels. They are birds prey, so leave them alone, and let nature take its course. Farangs are also part of nature. Let them poke, pick squeeze, kick, stomp kill. undoubtedly some may escape their demise, but next year another horde will return, as it has been doing for thousands of years. The birds will come its natures way of over population control, But the Farang........they moved on to the Fiji Islands, tourism is picking up there!

Red Claws Mmmmmm Any relation to Red Shirts Gathering in huge numbers is not allowed