Our subject now is the rainy season and some of the side effects that come along with it... This is a very dramatic season everything changes morphes or washes away. Almost every thing is in excess. From Mangos falling to the ground to moscas (flies), hormigas (ants), zancudos (mosquitos), sapos (toads), luciernagas (fireflies), chicharras (graiting sounding insects) , malaguas (jellyfish) and yes of course the much dreaded Mollos (crabs)... etc etc...
It takes a certain type of person to endure this time without getting irritated I know, but I also believe that we often act with agresion towards something we ignore, something like killing annoying crabs by the buckets....
Mollos have been a part of La Manzanilla life for decades, they live in the Manglar and come out to roam the streets once a year, locals know this, have accepted this and are ok with it. That doesn't mean it would stop them from catching as many large females, who are the egg bearers as they could and cooking up a delicious caldo de cangrejo every time they had a chance!! (or hunting them and squashing them down the road for fun...)
Kid's favorite pass time...hunting for Mollos!
Today the Mollo population faces serious threats due to over hunting and invasion of territory. Their pass trough our town is only part of their natural migratory transition period to reproduce. And why would we want them to reproduce? Mollos, like most species present in the Manglar today play a key ecological function; in this case one beneficiary to us humans, the new ones on the block...! Mollos feed on mosquio larvae and juvenile mosquitos, they are the natural regulators for mosquito population in the swamp and dengue spread. Less Mollos more mosquitoes.
Mollo inocente. . .
There are some active efforts by several ejidatarios to extend the same protection to this specie as the Ejido has achieved for the Cocodrilos, actually making appropriate conditions to help them reproduce and recuperate their population and biological function in the Manglar and in the town; this year seems not so good for the Mollos since there caves are filled with water locals say...
Brace yourselves for more changes yet to come to La Manzanilla this summer, from you streets terrain, to weather, to the beach and political outcomes can all change radically!
Viva Mexico,
Viva su Diversidad Natural,
Vivan los Mollos!!!!
Special Thanks to Oralia Valdez and
the L. M. in Motion team who are back in action!
Special Thanks to Oralia Valdez and
the L. M. in Motion team who are back in action!
