Enemy Crab Causes Massive Damage
Residents Shell Shocked By Feral Crab Invasion Parks Victoria have been inundated with calls for help after a man inadvertently unleashed a shipping container loaded with Christmas Island red crabs into bushland around Horsham last week. The crabs, which are suspected to number in the thousands, have been devouring crops and young livestock in the area. The damages are estimated to be upwards of twenty million dollars, with many land owners unsure whether insurance agencies will cover their losses. There is concern that the crabs may cause damage to infrastructure, with SES volunteers responding to one instance of a crab severing underground electrical cables. Police are investigating the matter, though it is uncertain whether the man, who has not been named, will face prosecution. It is not yet known why the crabs were in the container or from where it was shipped. Parks Victoria fear that the queen crab may have gone to ground, in which case it could take a decade long effort to bring the feral crustaceans under control. “Once she starts to lay, there’s a high chance that more queens will hatch and spread out even further across rural Victoria,” said Parks Victoria spokesperson Oscar Karkinos. “This isn’t the first time feral crabs have wreaked havoc in rural areas. But it’s by far the largest infestation we’ve ever seen.” Residents in the area are being advised to wear protective clothing and report any crab sightings.
More details to come.
