Christmas Island: all covered in crabs, absolutely all of it

Caution, crabs!

Once a year, in autumn, when wet weather sets in, Christmas Island begins to stir. As in horror films, the islanders are attacked by millions of red crabs. They are everywhere - on roads, in offices, on cars, and even in homes.

It is a dubious pleasure – sitting at a cafe table while crabs crawl over your legs. The local residents, however, are not bothered by this in the least. From kindergarten, children are taught to care for their crustacean neighbors. People get used to walking very carefully so as not to accidentally crush a crab making its way to the ocean.

The islanders treat their neighbors with great tenderness – for about a week, traffic on the island is closed off, and tourists are warned about the crab invasion by signs reading «Caution, crabs!»

Mass migration

In orderly ranks, the crabs march from the forests to the ocean, because that is where they spawn – this is essential for the survival of the species. Having completed their mission, the tired but very determined creatures return to their forests and await their offspring. First the males return home, and then the tired but proud females.

After a few weeks, the eggs turn into young; they grow limbs, and then it all begins anew. The little red «spiders» now make the return journey from the ocean to the forest, where their happy parents await them, to repeat it all over again the following year.

The island's symbol under threat

However, no matter how careful and caring people are, the land crabs face deadly danger. The «yellow crazy ants» introduced to the island are systematically destroying the crustacean population. These insects are ruining the island's ecology by releasing huge amounts of formic acid, which is deadly to crabs. At present, more than a quarter of the entire crab population has been wiped out.

The «yellow crazy ants», so named because they make erratic movements when disturbed, are recognized as one of the most dangerous invasive ant species in the world. It is believed that the insects arrived on the island between 1915 and 1934 – they were accidentally brought by travelers, and by 1999 the red crab population on the island had fallen by 30%. This damaged the entire ecosystem of Christmas Island. Ecologists are sounding the alarm, but at present there is still no solution that would protect the islanders' friends.

Wonder island

Land crabs – are a wonder of nature that can be found only on Christmas Island. If you want to see this unique natural phenomenon, then late October – early November – is the time to book your tickets. A small airfield has been built on the island, receiving planes from other parts of Australia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In addition, you can also reach Christmas Island by sea.