Feature by Priyanka Singh
Once a year, something incredibly fascinating takes place on the Christmas Island in Australia, when
the entire island turns red due to an annular event. The Christmas Island is home to about 50 million
red crabs.
The red crabs are decapods (have 10 legs) and have eyes that protrude out of their bodies
(just like a snail).
At the beginning of the rainy season in the Christmas Island, these tiny creatures start a spectacular journey from the inland to the seaside. The crabs start to move only after the first rain of the season. If the rains are late, the crabs would not begin the migration. Also, the crabs would only begin migration when they are sure they can complete the journey.
The main motive of the journey is to reproduce. After reaching the seaside, the crabs take a dip in the
sea to replenish their body moisture and salts. The male crab digs a burrow in the sand and lives in
there with the female crab for a few days and then starts its return journey. The female crabs brood the
eggs (incubate by sitting on the eggs to provide warmth) for 2 weeks and then drop them in the sea
(this is called spawning).
They too start their return journey after spawning. The eggs hatch into larvae, which soon evolve into baby crabs. Shortly afterwards, they begin to travel a path they have never walked before – into the inland, following their parent’s footsteps.
The local population and the government are quite supportive of this incredible natural phenomenon.
The entire path of the migration is barricaded, and special bridges are built to protect the crabs.
While usually the migration happens in October, this year, the migration has started in the final week of August and is currently underway.