Let’s go Malta!

Malta is proud of its crabs, so much so that their endemic species of freshwater crab is emblazoned on their coins.

The crabs known as il-qabru, live in burrows dug underground alongside streams, which can be as deep as 60cm. These burrows often have several entrances so that the crab can escape if necessary and they are deep enough to store water at the base, which is used to maintain moisture on the crab’s gills.

They are carnivorous and nocturnal, which means if you’re an unsuspecting snail or invertebrate, you better stay indoors at night.

However the crab is facing eradication from its natural habitat due to excessive water pollution, the drying up of rivers and streams, alongside human capture.

To combat this, researchers are working on a three-year long project to better understand the species and work toward reintroducing a population born in captivity to the islands. The aim of the project is to raise awareness of the animals and attempt to conserve the biodiversity of Malta for future generations.

Earlier this month, some of these crabs born in captivity were reintroduced to the streams that their pregnant mothers were taken from. The remaining crabs in captivity are under 24 hour monitoring to observe and explore the potential impacts of climate change on these crabs.

Speaking of the project President Vincent Attard said, “Climate change is now with us. In the next few decades we expect to see harsher conditions making human life even more difficult. Many species are already facing extinction as their habitats have come under threat. We need to pass from words to action”.

Good luck to you crabs! 加油!

P.C: Melanie Drury