(MY) Robber crabs come to Malacca

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Friday December 16, 2005 - The Star

 

Robber crabs come to Malacca

 

BY LEE YUK PENG

 

ALOR GAJAH: A total of 40 giant crabs, weighing between 2kg and 5kg,

have been flown here from Christmas Island, Australia.

 

But the robber crabs – the world's largest land crab – will not end up

on the dinner table.

 

Instead, they will join the list of attractions at the D-Paradise

Tropical Fruit World and Aboriginal Native Village in Lubok China

here.

 

The robber crabs, which arrived here on Sunday, were given to

D-Paradise for free, with the eco-agrotourism centre paying only the

transportation costs.

 

D-Paradise managing director Lee Wah Chong said he had written to the

Australian Government early this year requesting the crabs.

 

" I want to see whether these crabs can survive here in a new habitat.

The soil in Christmas Island is more salty than the soil here, " he

said.

 

The crabs' new home is the D-Paradise anteater sanctuary, located in

0.8ha of virgin jungle with a natural stream flowing through it.

 

" I hope the crab population will multiply after a few months, " Lee said.

 

The robber crab is also known as the coconut crab.

 

It is known for using its two giant pincers to pound coconuts until

they crack open.

 

It can grow up to 60cm or more in length and its colour is a mixture

of red and blue.

 

Key attractions at D-Paradise, which covers 68ha, include a cactus

farm, a dragonfly sanctuary, a bird park and a bee farm.

 

In addition to 800 species of tropical fruits at D-Paradise, Lee has

also successfully planted temperate produce such as grapes,

blueberries, avocados and kiwi fruit there.