Tens of Millions of Red Crabs Are Marching Across Christmas Island

As they do every year, the island’s 1,200 residents have prepared for the mass migration of tens of millions of red crabs. This island, located in the Indian Ocean, is separated from mainland Australia by 1,500 kilometers.
The traditional march of these crustaceans began with the onset of summer rains in the Southern Hemisphere. Countless red crabs — endemic to Christmas Island — set off toward the ocean, creating a stunning spectacle. Upon reaching the shore, they will lay eggs, The Independent reports. For about a month, the offspring will remain in the ocean as larvae before returning to the island as tiny crabs.
As always, the local community is actively participating in the event. Residents have armed themselves with leaf blowers and garden rakes to help the crabs on their journey.

Alexia Yankovska, acting director of Christmas Island National Park, confirmed that around 200 million endemic Gecarcoidea natalis crabs inhabit the island’s small territory. Park officials expect that about 100 million individuals will migrate from their forest burrows to the shore to breed.
Yankovska says that during the midday hours, crabs seek shade, while early in the morning and late in the evening they embark on a long, slow march to the coast along roads and through gardens.
“Some may see the crabs as a nuisance, but most of us consider encountering them a kind of privilege,” said Yankovska. She also warned that visitors to Christmas Island should not leave doors open during this time, since they might unexpectedly find a large group of red crabs in their rooms. Some locals carefully clear their driveways of crabs so they can leave in the morning.