Could a rare crab save Hong Kong Golf Club from bulldozers? Conservationists fear threat to its habitat from housing project
- World Wildlife Fund is against developing on the Fanling course, saying it could wipe out a thriving colony that is native to Hong Kong
- The club is embarking on a social media campaign to showcase its rich fauna and flora
A rare, freshwater crab may pose an obstacle to the government’s plans to bulldoze part of the Hong Kong Golf Club (HKGC), with Fanling chiefs embarking on a campaign to win the hearts of conservationists.
The 172-hectare golf course is home to almost a dozen protected animal species and also boasts 419 plants and trees that are considered potentially “old and valuable”.
One particular animal, the Somanniathelphusa zanklon – a crab native to Hong Kong – is in danger of being wiped out completely from the area if development goes ahead, according to the World Wildlife Fund, Hong Kong.
In a letter to the Environmental Protection Department this month, WWFHK’s Andrew Chan said the “globally endangered species” was found in “high abundance” in a stream within the golf course.
“We are of grave concern that the proposed development and associated civil engineering works such as channelisation will cause direct loss of habitat of this endangered freshwater crab. We also worry that untreated effluent during construction phase will deteriorate water quality of the stream and affect the survival of S. zanklon,” wrote Chan.