Millions of red crabs make their annual migration to the sea to breed on Christmas Island, a sight that has stunned tourists.
Over 50 million of the blazing red crabs will make the journey from the jungle to the coast of the National Park, in Western Australia’s far northwest.
Travellers and locals alike race to catch what’s considered the most important animal migration on Earth, as the animals turn an island red.
The footage shows the natural phenomenon of crustaceans swarming over roads, bridges and rocks to get to their breeding destination.
Tourists were stunned to see millions of Red Crabs making the annual migration to the sea to breed on Christmas Island (pictured).
The crabs are known for appearing in unusual locations when they pass through towns and over cliffs.
The island’s staff spends several months prepping for migration, building temporary barriers and crab bridges.
Daily Mail Australia spoke to Dr Tanya Detto about Christmas Island’s invasive species programs. She said that the island hasn’t had so many migrating crayfish since 2005.
Dr Detto stated that the team spent a lot time managing bridges and barriers to keep crabs safe as they traveled to Flying Fish Cove.
She said, “It was really lovely to see them being channelled away from traffic and getting there safely,”
Experts on the island can predict rough routes for crustaceans, but it changes slightly every year.
Some crabs fell off the limestone cliffs of the island’s three-storey building, but she assured them that most crustaceans would live.
The first rains of the dry season in October and November usually trigger the highly anticipated migration.
A few days after the rains stopped, male crabs began to move towards the beaches and picked up the females.
Christmas Island is home to the most red crabs anywhere in the world. Tourists warned that the island’s crustaceans were ‘protected’ and’respected’.
Many months are spent by island staff preparing for the migration. This includes building temporary barriers (pictured) as well special crab bridges.
The footage shows the natural phenomenon in which crustaceans are seen crawling along roads and bridges to get to their breeding grounds.
It is the lunar phase that determines the exact time and speed of migration. The crabs are expected to spawn around the 29th, 30th, or 31st of each month.
Smart crustaceans can time when to leave their burrows and reach the beach at the right time so they are ready to start spawning.
Every female crab releases a remarkable 100,000 eggs to the Indian Ocean every night during migration.
The baby red crabs, one month later will make the return trip home through the tropical forest to land on shore.
But the majority of the larvae are likely to be eaten by fish, mantarays, and the huge whale sharks who wait for them in the nearby waters.
These clever crabs are able to precisely time their departures from burrows so that they reach the beach just in time to spawn on the correct lunar date.
The first rain of the dry season in October or November usually triggers the highly anticipated migration.
Bianca Priest was the Christmas Island’s acting manager. She said that the amazing natural phenomenon takes place every year on this picturesque island.
Ms Priest explained that the Christmas Island National Park staff set up temporary barriers, put up signs, and closed roads to keep millions of crabs from leaving the forest for the coast.
“Over time, people have come from every part of the world in order to observe this natural phenomenon.”
The island’s roads may be shut down unexpectedly in order to accommodate crab movements. There are public notice boards on the island and radio stations that provide information on updates regarding their movement.
It is a good idea to leave your car at home and walk carefully among brightly colored creatures as they make their way towards the beach.
To accommodate the movements of the crabs, roads can be shut down unexpectedly on the island. There are public notice boards along with local radio stations that provide updates.
Red Crab larvae in large numbers will be eaten by manta and fish as well as the whale sharks of the waters surrounding.
The public is encouraged to take a walk with the brightly colored crabs to the beach and to avoid parking their vehicles.
Another species of crustacean, the Robber crab, lives on this island.
These creatures, which are not dangerous despite their frightening appearances, have been known for stealing items from campsites.
The crabs can reach up to one metre in height and are able to sense smell, so they often end up in unexpected places.
Campers from the island snapped the moment last year when they were confronted by the giant robber-crabs while trying to have a barbecue with their families.
Campers from the island snapped the moment last year when they were confronted by giant robber crabs while trying to have a family BBQ.
Amazing photos of more than 52 clawsome animals eagerly waiting for a snack of leftovers are shown in this series.
Amazing photos captured more than 52 animals eagerly waiting to eat leftovers.
To get to the mouth-watering meal, the crabs scaled tables and chairs to reach the grill.
Amy Luetich, her family and their belongings had been on Christmas Island for several years. Then they moved to Grants Well where they stayed with other families.
“We’ve camped in the area several times, but we’ve never seen so many robber grabs,” Mrs Luetich told Daily Mail Australia last January.
They were told by her that there was 20 people under the tree when they arrived. The seed had already begun to germinate.
They were seen crawling over specially built bridges in order to reach the ocean at optimal time to spawn.
Red crabs have aphrodisiac properties and are a popular delicacy in the Pacific. However, they are protected in Australia so can’t even be eaten
“But, as soon we began cooking, they swarmed all around us,” she said. She recalled that her son had counted 52.
His job was to take them out of the way and get them back. It was a great job.
“We kept the tents out of sight of where we had eaten. But one family claimed that all night, they felt one tapping on their tent.”
Christmas Island boasts the highest number of red crabs worldwide. Visitors are advised that these crustaceans must be protected and respected in their area.
Robber crabs, which are highly prized in Asia for their aphrodisiac properties and delicacy, are not allowed to be consumed.