Annual Christmas Island Crab Migration In Australia Sees Historic 2 Months Delay, But Why?

The migration of millions of red crabs in Australia has been hampered by unusually dry weather this season. Over 100 million red crabs reside in the interiors of Australia’s Christmas Island. In the last 12 months, sadly, the island received half its average rainfall. This dryness has caused a major and historic two-month delay in the crab migration in this island area.

A Historic Two Months Delay In Annual Christmas Island Crab Migration

Christmas Island is a part of an Australian territory that lies in the Indian Ocean. This place is famous for its wildlife, especially red crabs. Every year, millions of these red crabs come out of the island’s forest and make their way to the ocean to mate. This natural process sees countless crabs swarming across roads, streams, rocks, and beaches and is quite a spectacular sight. This migration usually starts with the first rainfall in October or November. Although, it can sometimes be a little late and start in December or January.

This season, however, this annual migration has seen a historic delay of two months! As per Australian authority, Parks Australia, “exceptionally dry” weather has led to this delay. According to reports, the island has received half its average rainfall in the last 12 months. This has made the “island look extremely desperate, dry and dusty.” This kept the crabs from migrating. For the first time, since Parks Australia Tracking migration in the 80s, crabs have migrated as late as February.

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Climate Change Dampens This Year’s Migration

Christmas Island is home to 100 million red crabs and is designated as a national park in Australia. The crabs are quite unique to the island and come under the protection of Australian law. This annual migration sees millions of crabs leaving the interiors of the island and going to the ocean to mate. Sadly, climate change has widely hampered the migration process this year. The unusually and exceptionally dry season has delayed the process which might further hamper their mating process.

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Cover Image Courtesy: website/parksaustralia

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