Location of Christmas Island

Christmas Island rainforest

Red crab

Red crabs begin their march from

the forest to the sea, where they will
reproduce.
During the migration, the island's
human inhabitants just have to
adapt.

There are around 120 million crabs

on the march.

The crabs navigate the same

pathways year after year

For the islanders, encounters with

crabs during the migration are just
part of island life.
Most of the time we just work
around the crabs and take them for
granted

Red crabs are scavengers

After two weeks of marching, the

first wave of crabs reaches the
ocean

The weary travellers dip in the

ocean to replace body fluids and
salts.
 Rangers rescue crabs from
drowning whilst dipping off the
cliffs around the island.

Aerial view of Christmas

Island

Crabs pop up in the most

unexpected places

A female crab expels eggs

from her brood pouch
The eggs hatch
immediately on contact
with the water.

Baby crabs navigate their

way into the rainforest ... and
the end