Xiaoliuqiu 'Beauty Cave' to Implement Crab Protection Traffic Control Starting June 8

Central News Agency, Pingtung County, May 31. Every year from May to September is the larval release period for land crabs in Xiaoliuqiu. This year, traffic control for crab protection in the 'Beauty Cave Ecological Corridor' will be implemented from June 8 to August 31. Crab protection volunteers remind the public that purple land crabs are accustomed to migrating on rainy days, urging road users to slow down to reduce 'roadkill.' Xiaoliuqiu has a large population of purple land crabs, but for years they have faced habitat destruction and roadkill problems. The Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area Administration piloted a road closure for crab protection in mid-to-late September last year, establishing a 1.2-kilometer 'Beauty Cave Ecological Corridor' where cars and motorcycles are prohibited from passing between 7 PM and 10 PM every night. The Liuchiu Management Station of the Administration told CNA reporters today that the crab protection traffic control for the Beauty Cave section this year is expected to be implemented from June 8 to August 31, with road closures during the same period. According to statistics from Xiaoliuqiu land crab volunteers, a total of 2,876 land crabs were killed on the road between April 27 and October 31 last year. The Sunset section of the island road had the highest number at 629, followed by the Shanzhugou section at 585, and the Beauty section at 537. However, 1,240 land crabs were successfully protected by volunteers, with the Beauty section having the most at 476, followed by the Sunset section at 326 and the Houshi section at 194. A volunteer surnamed Wang pointed out that both last year's and this year's land crab roadkill statistics started on April 27. This year's statistics as of today show 204 roadkill cases, lower than the 265 in the same period last year, likely due to less rainfall this year. Purple land crabs, which suffer the most severe roadkill, are accustomed to migrating on rainy days. At the end of May last year, there was a rainstorm that coincided with the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, leading to over 100 roadkill cases per day. Wang said that after the road closure and traffic control in the Beauty Cave section in June, it is estimated that more than 500 roadkill cases can be reduced. In addition, the situation of egg-carrying female crabs being killed on the road in the Houshi section is the most severe on the island. This year, volunteers will guard the land crabs crossing the road in that section every night from 7 PM to 11 PM around the new moon during the breeding season. They urge road users to slow down during the peak period when land crabs descend to the sea to release larvae. Wang mentioned that local NGO groups such as the Xiaoliuqiu Coastal Ecology Association and the Taiwan Laoguyu Association are committed to promoting low-carbon and responsible tourism. In addition to the currently implemented eco-friendly tableware system, they are planning to allow tourists to join the ranks of helping crabs cross the road next year, acting as guardians of the land crabs together.