Christmas Island, located 1,500 kilometers from Australia's mainland, is currently experiencing its annual red crab migration. This event is so significant that local employers understand if residents cannot make it to work due to crabs blocking the roads. The migration began this week after the first rain fell over the weekend, according to Alexia Jankowski, acting manager of Christmas Island National Park. Approximately half of the island's estimated 200 million red crabs will leave their forest burrows to travel to the rocky shores, where they will release their eggs. The eggs will spend about a month in the ocean as larvae before returning to land as small crabs. During this migration, the island is transformed into a sea of red crabs, spilling over roads, homes, and schools. Jankowski noted, "We have to put rakes in our cars and leaf blowers … to ensure the crabs have a safe passage." Residents often avoid driving during early morning and late afternoon to allow the crabs to cross freely. "Everyone here really values the crabs, and it's seen as a real treat," she added. This year's migration has started slightly earlier than in previous years, and with more rain expected, residents are bracing for an influx of crabs. Brendon Tiernan, the park's threatened species coordinator, reported that the crab population has significantly increased in recent years. In the early 2000s, the population was estimated at about 55 million, but it has now risen to approximately 100 million. The introduction of a microwasp in 2016 has helped reduce the threat posed by yellow crazy ants, a major predator of the crabs. Tiernan stated, "As a result, we've now had a number of incredible returns of baby crabs." Local resident Megs Powell described the scene, saying that up to 100 crabs can line her driveway. Many locals participate in "crab duty," helping to rake the crabs off the roads. "Leaving the street can be really difficult … a lot of people, if they can, will work from home," she said. The female crabs can carry up to 100,000 eggs, and the Parks Australia team assists in clearing the roads to protect them. Powell explained, "It can go from taking a couple of minutes like normal, or up to 10 to 20 minutes if you get stuck in a stop zone. They save thousands of little crab lives every day when they do that." Oliver Lines, director of Community Services, likened the migration to a red carpet being laid out along the shoreline. "I've been here 34 years and it still fills me with quite a lot of wonder, it never ceases to amaze me," he said. "Somehow, those tiny little crabs will go back to where those parent crabs started in the jungle." David Watchorn, chair of the Christmas Island Tourism Association, noted that while crabs can be seen year-round, the migration draws many more tourists to the island. "It's one of the most amazing wildlife experiences you can see on the planet," he said. "Everyone has it on a bucket list to come and see."
Red Crab Migration Draws Attention on Christmas Island

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