“After heavy rain a land crab wanders into the park” A land crab found in Kaohsiung Metropolitan Park

The Kaohsiung area has had heavy rain for days in succession recently and water accumulated in many places. During the rains, the green area of the Metropolitan Park accumulated a significant amount of water, easing the pressure on the local drainage system and showing that the green space in the park plays a flood prevention function. When the heavy rain eased for a time on the morning of June 17, a member of Dongsha Marine National Park staff was surprised to find a large crab walking on the path in front of the national park offices next to the central square. After photographs were taken and identification carried out, it was found to be Taiwan’s largest species of land crab (Cardisoma carn-ifex Herbst (凶狠圓軸蟹).

It is estimated that this crab is an individual that ventured into the park, quite a distance from the sea, when the creek water rose in the recent heavy rains after it moved up Houjin Creek as it expanded its territory. The appearance of the land crab also shows the completeness and diversity of the park’s natural habitat. Park management will continue to monitor the natural environment in the park and strive to make the park a high- quality large forest park. 

Translated by：Kevin Lax
Source：Marine National Park Headquarters