Thailand's waterways are set to be invaded by giant exotic Chinese crabs, environmentalists warn.They say the mitten crabs, which can grow to the size of a trash can lid, could overrun klongs and rivers. Scientists also fear native species of crab could be overwhelmed like the red crab, on the verge of extinction after being pushed out by greys from the US. Researchers at Chlalonglorn University studied how the mittens had swept through central Asia in the last century.
And they concluded that there could be a population explosion in Thailand at any time. The mitten crab, given its name because its claws, are coated with clumps of dark brown fur. They prey on protected species and destabilise river banks by burrowing into them with their 150cm-long boreholes.