Christmas Island’s red crabs begin their famed annual migration as authorities report progress to control pests threatening the charismatic crustaceans.

More than 100 million red crabs making their annual trek from Christmas Island’s rainforest to the coast are creating a migration spectacle that occupies countless bucket lists.

Their dominance of the landscape is an eye-catching phenomenon loved by tourists and treasured by residents.

For the island’s conservationists, it’s a reassuring sight.

Brendon Tiernan, Christmas Island National Park’s senior field program co-ordinator for threatened species programs, said the war had not been won against the yellow ant invaders that threatened the red crabs.

“But we’ve had a significant impact,” he said.

Malaysian micro-wasps were brought in

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