Preserving our endemics

submitted by St Michael School St Venera : Karl Buhagiar  for 15-18
dissemination(s): school magazine
Dissemination description: Is going to be published in Eco-School Newsletter
filed under Photos


Look at this beautiful creature! It is the Maltese Fresh Water Crab, found only on the Maltese Islands. I captured this rare sight on an excursion to Bahrija valley where the fresh water course flows. It was a quiet afternoon and had to wait considerable time to spot this crab. But I was lucky. It is hardly visible when many people are around. It hates disturbance. Besides, it is so well camouflaged that you hardly see it in the water.

The number of these fresh water crabs is very low so you have to quite patient to see it. It needs a continuous supply of fresh water throughout the year. This has become rather difficult on our islands because many people are extracting water from the aquifers. The pesticides used by farmers are also polluting the water. So, let us do our best to preserve these wonderful crabs.