Homeless hermit crabs in Koh Lanta need seashell donations

Hermit crabs on Moo Koh Lanta Marine National Park have been seen making homes out of broken glass bottles and other pieces of trash. With the shortage of shells on the Krabi beaches, park officials have launched a project called “Returning Homes to Hermit Crabs.”

The park made a post on Facebook with photo a hermit crab that appears to be living in a broken glass bottle. So far, a number of people responded and pledged to donate around 200 kilograms of shells. A park official, who spoke to the Bangkok Post, says they still need more.

“We still need more… All donated items will be dropped on beaches for hermit crabs to choose their new homes.”

The number of hermit crabs is rapidly growing, but the island doesn’t have enough shells for the crabs and many have resorted to trash left on the beach. The park official says they don’t believe tourists contributed to the shortage of seashells.

“Some tourists might take shells home but that was not the underlying cause of the problem… There are simply more hermit crabs than shells.”

To donate or to get more information, contact the park at 075-656-576.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

Catch up with the latest daily “Thailand News Today” here on The Thaiger.