needs much protection.

But these rare native animals are at risk in the Island because of destruction of their habitat.

And now experts at Bermuda Aquarium are appealing to locals to help preserve them.

The blue-grey creatures, bigger cousins of the red common land crab, like to hide in muddy burrows in mangrove swamps and look nearby for food at night.

But sometimes they do go wandering abroad. A month ago one named Kyle crawled into King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, terrifying elderly patients.

Last week two more adventurous specimens were brought to the Aquarium by locals. One showed up behind a supermarket and the other had marched into a yard.

"There seem to be quite a few of them wandering around right now,'' said head aquarist Mrs. Jennifer Gray-Conklin.

"The males wander more than the females. The two last week were young ones, so perhaps they were looking for their own territories.

"The reason it's a concern to me is that I think some people are very tempted to keep them and use them for food or for bait or whatever.

"It's important that the general public know that they're an endangered species.'' The crabs find Bermuda tough already because this is probably the northernmost place they live, and winters are cold for them.

"Their populations have been threatened by man's encroachment on their environment. The construction of the Airport wiped a colony out.

"There are only two strong colonies left, and we've started to introduce a few to another mangrove area.

"If people see one wandering and it's out of a mangrove habitat, they should contact the Aquarium.

"If they see one near a mangrove habitat then they should leave it alone.'' The crabs can give people a nasty nip, as Mrs. Gray-Conklin knows only too well.

A stray one should be coaxed into a bucket, and handled only with heavy gloves, she said.

Giant land crabs mainly eat decaying leaves. But guests at the Aquarium get dog food as an extra treat.

NOT-SO-GENTLE GIANT -- Head aquarist Mrs. Jennifer Gray-Conklin shows off a rare giant land crab, brought into Bermuda Aquarium by a resident and now on display. (See story this page).