Unusually dry weather causes historic two-month delay of Australia red crab migration

Record ID: 1767314

  • Title: Unusually dry weather causes historic two-month delay of Australia red crab migration
  • Date: 19th February 2024
  • Summary: CHRISTMAS ISLAND, AUSTRALIA (FILE – 1993) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) RED CRABS CLIMBING ON TOP OF EACH OTHER VARIOUS OF CRABS WALKING CRABS ON STAIRS
  • Embargoed: 4th March 2024 05:38
  • Keywords: Australia Christmas Island Christmas Island crabs climate change crabs environment migration rainfall red crabs wildlife
  • Location: CHRISTMAS ISLAND, AUSTRALIA
  • City: CHRISTMAS ISLAND, AUSTRALIA
  • Country: Australia
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Environment,Nature/Wildlife
  • Reuters ID: LVA001157819022024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Exceptionally dry weather has caused a historic two-month delay in the annual migration of Australia's Christmas Island red crabs, as they begin their annual journey from the island's interior to the sea where they mate.
    But climate change has put a dampener on this season's migration, a time when sheer numbers of red crabs would normally result in road closures on the island.
    This year is the first time in recorded history that the crabs have migrated as late as February, said Brendan Tiernan, the threatened species field program coordinator for Parks Australia, adding that they did so in lower numbers.
    With a population of over 100 million, the crabs are unique to the island — much of which is designated as a national park — and protected by Australian law. The migration sees the crabs journey from the island off the coast of Western Australia to the ocean, where they mate. The females then stay behind in burrows near the ocean to hatch their eggs and the males return inland.
    (Production: Cordelia Hsu)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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