Godzilla Crab Terrorizes Hawaiian Residents
What would you do if you saw a gigantic crab crossing your path? Residents of a Hawaiian neighbourhood decided they would give the amphibian its 30-seconds of fame when they spotted one last weekend.
Tech Times reported sighting of a Coconut Crab at Salt Lake Boulevard, much to the surprise of passersby. The crab brought motorists and cars to a halt as it crossed the road. Not only were they looking at a gigantic coconut crab, they were also seeing the first one after 25 years. The last sighting of Coconut Crab in Hawaii was in 1989.
Coconut Crabs can grow to up to 3 feet tall and get strong enough to bust open a coconut. While they are rarely seen in Hawaii, spotting of one makes it possible that there could be more around. An infestation of Coconut Crabs is to be feared as they can attack birds, pets, and cause havoc, besides scaring people.
"Three feet is as big as a trash can. Literally, as big as a trash can. That's why people are worried about having it show up here. A crab that big can do damage if it's wandering around trying to find things to eat. They'll raid people's trash cans, eat native birds, eat juvenile plants, and tear up the landscape if they're here. They grab a hold of things; can rip them open, can bust open a coconut. And the idea of that crawling around in their backyard is not going to be very pleasant to most people in Hawaii," said Professor Rob Toonen, University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology, according to Pioneer News.
The crab sighted on Sunday was 16 inches big. Officials ruled out an infestation given that Hawaii is not a crab habitat. It is likely that crustacean was smuggled in.
