Freeport-McMoRan Helps Discover Two New Crab Species in Papua

Two new species of crab have been discovered in the rich ecosystem of the Ajkwa River estuary by the PT Freeport Indonesia (PT-FI) biodiversity research team.

The two new species are Typhlocarcinops raouli and Typhlocarcinops robustus. The two new crabs were discovered by a team of researchers from PT-FI and the Indonesian Institute of Science.

Since PTFI's research began in 2001 as part of its environmental commitment to track the biodiversity of the estuary, more than 100 species of crabs have been found in these areas, 21 of which are new discoveries.

In addition to monitoring the natural sedimentation process, PT-FI also has helped establish new areas of mangrove in the Ajkwa estuary through the planting of mangrove flora on more than 700 acres since 2013. Mangrove forests are steadily disappearing worldwide due to rising ocean levels. Because mangrove ecosystems are more efficient than terrestrial ecosystems at absorbing and storing carbon long-term, they are a critical solution in the fight against climate change.

To learn more about how Freeport-McMoRan minimizes adverse impacts on the environment and enables ecosystems to be protected and maintained through responsible environmental stewardship, please visit www.fcx.com/sustainability.

See the 2019 Annual Report on Sustainability for more information on their social, economic and environmental efforts.