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DUKAS_16557103_REX
Red crab migration on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean - 01 Dec 2010
Mandatory Credit: Photo by James D. Morgan / Rex Features ( 1254772ad )
March Of The Crabs
One of the most amazing migrations in the animal world takes place each year on Christmas Island.
This annual event sees millions of red crabs swarm across the island in the hope of making it to the sea.
Christmas Island lies some 1600 miles north west of Perth in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
While just 1500 people live there it is home to an estimated 120 million-strong crab population.
Most of these are red crabs, which spend most of their time living in burrows on the rainforest floor in order to avoid drying out in the fierce sun.
But when the time is right - according to the tides and phases of the moon - they embark on the journey of their lives.
The mass move is headed by the males, who are quickly followed by the females.
The crabs spend several painstaking days crawling to the ocean, which can be as far away as 9km.
Along the way, from the interior of the island to its coast, they face numerous hazards.
While the human population does the best it can, according to local ranger Max Orchard each year up to half a million crabs never return from their perilous journey.
Many of these casualties fall under the wheels of vehicles as they attempt to traverse local roads or are attacked by yellow crazy ants.
Once the males arrive at the sea they dig special burrows, where mating takes place once the females arrive.
After the deed is done the males begin the arduous journey back inland while the females remain in the burrows for around two weeks - laying eggs and waiting for them to develop.
The eggs are held in a brood pouch - located between the female crab's abdomen and thorax - which can hold as many as 100,000 eggs.
When the time is right, just before dawn at high tide, the egg-laden females descend to the waterline to release their eggs - a proc...
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