120 seconds to help "land crabs" give birth: Kenting implements road control

▲ Kenting sees many tourists in summer,and also many land crabs.Moreover, land crabs are generally nocturnal,making them prone to being "road-killed" by vehicles at night. (Photo / Courtesy of Kenting National Park Headquarters)

Reporter Li Zi Yi / Comprehensive report

In the coastal forests of Kenting under the cover of night, the egg-laying and breeding season of land crabs quietly arrives. On their journey back to the sea to give birth, speeding vehicles can easily become fatal hazards. To ensure the safe passage of egg-bearing female crabs across the roads, the Kenting National Park Headquarters implemented traffic controls during the peak land crab breeding season in 2015 — for nine days from the end of August to October, reducing the original four lanes to two on a 2 km section of Provincial Highway 26 between the 39.5k and 41.5k marks. Only the inner lanes in both directions were kept open for vehicles, while slower traffic allowed the crabs to cross first. With gentle actions and warm hearts, everyone works together to protect the land crabs.

To ensure the safe crossing of egg-bearing female crabs, the Kenting National Park Headquarters enforced controls over nine days: from August 28 to 30, September 27 to 29, and October 27 to 29. Control hours were from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM in August and September, and from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM in October. They carried out scheduled road closures under the initiative "Safe Passage for Peninsula Land Crabs – 120 Seconds to Thank You."

Read more >>>>>>Serious issue of Kenting land crabs being "road-killed" by tourists – up to 1,760 crabs killed in one night

During the control periods, road closures of 120 seconds will take place at every full hour (i.e., at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 minutes past the hour) to ensure the safe crossing of land crabs as they head to the sea to release their young. We hope for everyone’s cooperation and support. With your patience, kindness, courtesy, and slower driving, the mother crabs’ journey to give birth will be much safer.

If you’d like to catch a glimpse of the fascinating land crabs, you can join the activity “A Romantic Crab Encounter Under the Beautiful Starry Sky – Night Exploration of Land Crabs in Port Town.” For details about the event, visitthe official website of the Kenting National Park Headquartersand check the latest news section.

“Safe Passage for Peninsula Land Crabs – 120 Seconds to Thank You”
Controlled section: Provincial Highway 26, 39.5k to 41.5k
Dates: August 28–30, September 27–29, October 27–29
Times: Road closure for 120 seconds at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 minutes past every hour