Xiao Liuqiu Land Crab Breeding Season: Partial Road Closure on Meiren Road Until August 31

(Central News Agency, reporter Huang Yujing, Pingtung County, 11th) During the land crab breeding season on Xiao Liuqiu, egg-bearing female crabs migrate to the coast to release their larvae. To reduce roadkill, the Tourism Administration's Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area Administration (Dapeng Bay NSA) has partnered with local non-profit organizations to close a section of Meiren Road nightly from 7 PM to 10 PM until August 31 to protect the crabs.

In a press release on the 11th, the Dapeng Bay NSA stated that from May to October each year is both the land crab's migration period to the sea for larval release and the local peak tourist season. The administration, in cooperation with volunteers, will close approximately 1.2 kilometers of Meiren Road from today until August 31, between 7 PM and 10 PM daily, to protect the crabs.

The Dapeng Bay NSA noted that during the plum rain season, there are occasional heavy downpours or typhoons. When helping the land crabs, the safety and hard work of the control personnel must also be considered, and duty times will be adjusted flexibly as needed.

The "Meirendong Ecological Corridor Pedestrian Zone" was piloted in late September last year, with the original plan to implement it regularly from May to September each year. The Dapeng Bay NSA told CNA that due to budget and manpower considerations, the road closure period has been shortened this year. If funding allows in the future, they will try to adhere to the originally planned schedule.

According to data provided by volunteers, the road sections with the most crab roadkill last year were the Sunset Section of the Ring Island Road (629 crabs), the Shanpogou Section (585 crabs), and the Meiren Section (537 crabs). However, volunteers successfully protected 1,240 land crabs crossing the road. This year, from April 27 to May 31, the cumulative number of land crabs killed by vehicles on the island has reached 204.

The Dapeng Bay NSA invites local residents, tour guides, and tourists to respond by choosing to "walk" instead of riding scooters or driving cars, participating in low-carbon, environmentally friendly, and ecologically protective actions to safeguard biodiversity. The administration will continue to collaborate with public and private groups, including the Ocean Conservation Administration of the Ocean Affairs Council, integrating sustainable low-carbon tourism strategies to jointly promote sustainable tourism. (Editor: Li Mingzong) 1150611