Horseshoe Crab Rescue and Research Program 2014

Date: 25th October 2014, Saturday
Time: 1:45pm – 7:00pm
Venue: Mandai Mudflat, Kranji
In a conservation effort to protect the horseshoe crabs in Singapore, Earthlink organized Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Program, an ongoing program initiated by Nature Society Singapore in 2007. It is much needed as horseshoe crab population has declined over the years as a consequence of coastal habitat destruction as well as overharvesting by humans. The objectives of this event was to educate the participants on ancient mariners, to create awareness on their importance to the environment, and last but not least exposing the participants to various hands-on environmental conservation work.
The event was held during a Saturday afternoon on 25th October. In total, there were 20 participants comprising of Earthlink committees and members. After the arrival of participants, transportation was then provided to Mandai Mudflats, which is located near Sungei Buloh Wetland Nature Reserve. The mudflat is part of the area preserved in Singapore to host various biodiversity such as horseshoe crab, mollusks and migratory birds.
The bus reached the Mudflats at around 4pm. There were plenty of activities waiting for the participants to take part in. For instance, the participants were to search for the horseshoe crab in the mudflat, measure them, identify their sexes, sizes, ages and note down the data for the population documentation purpose in Singapore to help determine population size and density. During the activities, participants were also exposed to the differences between the female and male horseshoe crabs through their claws and sizes. Female horseshoe crabs tend to be bigger than the males in terms of size, while the claws of the females point out in different directions from the carapace relative to the males. In addition, the participants came across a lot of mating horseshoe crabs in the mudflat. Typically, a male will cling to the back of a female during the mating process. Despite high numbers of mating crabs being observed that day, horseshoe crabs in fact reproduce slowly, and this is part of the reason why they are very vulnerable to harmful activities done to the environment.
Overall, it was a lot fun walking in the mudflat and looking for the horseshoe crab using bare hands. We also succeeded in helping out in saving the species. The efforts may seem little, but they probably were what these ancient creatures needed. We hope all the best for the horseshoe crabs.