A Crimson Odyssey: Christmas Island's Annual Crab Migration
Every year, up to 200 million red crabs migrate to the ocean on Christmas Island for breeding. Residents assist their journey using leaf blowers. This extraordinary event begins with summer rains, with crabs making a vast, organized march to the shore to breed and release their spawn.
- Country:
- Australia
On Christmas Island, a captivating spectacle unfolds as the annual migration of up to 200 million red crabs draws attention. These crabs journey from the forest to the ocean to breed every year, prompted by the start of Southern Hemisphere summer rains.
The island's inhabitants, totaling only 1,200, play an active role in aiding this massive migration. Residents employ leaf blowers and garden rakes to clear pathways for the crabs, ensuring their safe travel across roads and domestic spaces.
This remarkable biological event peaks as females release their eggs into the ocean during high tide. The young crabs then spend a month in the ocean before returning to begin the cycle anew, marking a unique natural process observed globally.
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