A Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) said in a statement yesterday that a IAM official found abandoned marbled crayfish, an invasive species, in the ecological pond in the Camellia Garden on Big Taipa Hill.
According to the statement, marble crayfish reproduce very quickly and cause serious damage to the local natural habitat. Therefore, the bureau urged residents not to abandon pets to avoid the possibility of endangering the local ecosystem. Violators face a fine, the bureau warned.
The statement said that marbled crayfish are asexual females, which are able to lay 200 eggs at once. The statement noted that they are very resilient, adding that they can survive without water for an hour and eat small fish and water-growing plants.
The statement stressed that the marbled crayfish is very dangerous to the ecosystem, adding that it could cause permanent damage to the local ecosystem. The statement pointed out that the Czech Republic, Hungary and Japan have faced an ecological disaster due to abandoned marbled crayfish.
The statement said that the bureau has removed the crayfish from the water, adding that it will monitor the pond and follow-up on its condition. The bureau urged residents to have a sense of civic responsibility and to think twice before owning a pet, as abandoned animals could cause serious harm to the environment.
This undated handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) yesteday shows a marbled crayfish.
