20 specimens of rare crab species released in nature park

Crustaceans hatched in captivity in bid to restock wild population, estimated to be a few hundred

- Ang Qing

Work is under way to shore up the wild numbers of a rare crab species found only in and around Singapore's last freshwater swamp forest.

On Tuesday, 20 specimens of the critically endangered Singapore swamp forest crab (Parathelphusa reticulata) were released into a stream at an undisclosed nature park.

The crustaceans - which can grow up to 4cm across - were hatched in captivity by the National Parks Board (NParks) as part of efforts to restock the wild population, estimated to be a few hundred.

The crabs were bred at NParks' Biodiversity National Centre (NBC). About 480 baby crabs were hatched from 12 adult crabs caught in Nee Soon Swamp Forest in 2018.

Efforts to restock dwindling populations of wild crab species in Singapore began in 2014, starting with the most endangered of the three freshwater crabs - the pebble-size Singapore freshwater crab (Johor singaporensis). The other crab is the Johnson's freshwater crab, which is also endangered. All three species are found nowhere else in the world.

The breeding programme is part of a national scheme to put in place by 2030 conservation plans for 160 species of rare or threatened native flora and fauna or those that can be found only in Singapore.

So far, more than 120 species have been included in the scheme.