The beginning of the annual rainfall on Australia's Christmas Island also marks the beginning of the
annual red crab migration.
Male and female red crabs move from the island's jungles toward the shores of the Indian Ocean.
There, they will create mating burrows in the sand to spawn the next generation of the island's 50 million red crabs.
Red crabs can only be found on Christmas Island.
Though their migration can disrupt local travel, Parks Australia refers to it as “one of the most incredible natural
processes on Earth.”
"The crabs are turning up everywhere, including at the door of an office block. Our staff have been out managing traffic, raking crabs off roads and providing updates to the community on road closures." Parks Australia, via Twitter.
Christmas Island Manager Bianca Priest reiterated the efforts taken to protect the crabs during this important cycle.
"Christmas Island National Park staff put up kilometers of temporary barriers, erect signs and close roads across
the island... to protect millions of crabs leaving their forest homes for the coast." Bianca Priest, Christmas Island Manager, via 'The Washington Post.
Famed naturalist Sir David Attenborough has referred to the migration as “an astonishing, wonderful sight.”
"It is like a great scarlet curtain moving down the cliffs and rocks toward the sea."' Sir David Attenborough, Popular Naturalist, via 'The Washington Post