https://a-z-animals.com/articles/why-are-millions-of-crabs-migrating-to-this-one-destination/
The Red Crabs of Christmas Island
Oct 2025
The annual red crab migration has begun! This extraordinary event has been shared in social media posts like this one. There is no doubt that the crabs are already on the move in the lead-up to the major spawning event that takes place around the 15th or 16th of November. Then, the tiny crab larvae will be released into the sea. However, there is a lot for them to do before that can take place! Their behavior is governed by the weather, tides, and the phases of the moon. Lets explore this extraordinary event and the animals that participate in it.
The Red Crabs of Christmas Island
The red crab migration takes place on Christmas Island, located approximately 1615 miles north-west of Perth and 300 miles south-west of Jakarta, Indonesia. The island covers just 52 square miles and features tropical rainforests, karst landscapes (with sinkholes and caves), cliffs, wetlands, coastal areas, and, of course, the sea. It has been hailed as the Galapagos Islands of the Indian Ocean and boasts a rich array of flora and fauna. This Australian territory, with a human population of just over 2000 people, also has a very large number of red crabs!
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