These crabs have their own special bridge. But why?
WORD HUNT!
In the article, find:
WORD HUNT!
In the article, find:
Jim McMahon/Mapman ®
It’s a calm, warm day on Christmas Island, a tiny island in the Indian Ocean. Raindrops drip drip drip in the trees. The air is thick and humid. Then you hear a light scratching sound on a nearby rock. Suddenly, there’s a flash of red on the ground—and you’re surrounded by a sea of bright-red crabs.
Welcome to one of the biggest animal migrations in the world!
A migration is when animals (or people) move from one place to another. On Christmas Island, around November every year, millions of red crabs scurry from the forest to the beach to mate and lay eggs. And one part of their journey includes crossing this unusual bridge.
It’s a calm day on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. Raindrops drip drip drip in the trees. The air is warm. Then you hear a light scratching sound. You see a flash of red on the ground. Suddenly, you’re surrounded by a sea of bright-red crabs.
Welcome to one of the biggest animal migrations in the world!
A migration is when animals (or people) move from one place to another. On Christmas Island, around November, millions of red crabs travel from the forest to the beach. There, they mate and lay eggs. During their journey, they cross this unusual bridge.
Crossing to Survive
The trip can be treacherous for the crabs. For one, there are armies of poisonous ants ready to attack and kill. Another danger the crabs face? Humans—and their cars. Traffic can crush the animals as they cross roads on their way to the sea.
To keep the crabs secure, rangers put up a bridge over one of the island’s busiest roads. The critters also have tunnels built just for them. These special paths are called wildlife corridors—and the world is full of them!
The trip can be treacherous for the crabs. For one, there are dangerous ants ready to attack and kill. Another danger the crabs face? People and their cars. Traffic can crush the animals as they cross roads on their way to the sea.
To keep the crabs secure, people put up a bridge over one of the island’s busiest roads. The animals also have special tunnels. These paths are called wildlife corridors. And the world is full of them!
Dangerous Crashes
It’s possible there’s a wildlife corridor near where you live. Here in the United States, there are more than 1,000 of them. Panthers wander through tunnels in Florida. Elk dash over a highway using a bridge in Washington State. And skunks scamper across a bridge in New Jersey.
These wildlife corridors make sure animals stay unharmed as they travel in search of food and mates. They also keep humans out of harm’s way. When large creatures wander onto busy roads, the crashes can be perilous for drivers. In the U.S., more than 1 million car accidents each year involve wild animals.
On Christmas Island, the crab bridge benefits people in another way too: It provides a place to experience an incredible migration. Every year, hundreds of tourists from around the world travel to the island to visit the bridge. They ooh and aah as they watch the sea of crabs crossing to safety.
And who can blame them? It’s a pretty amazing sight to see.
Maybe there’s a wildlife corridor near you. Here in the United States, there are more than 1,000 of them, from Florida to Washington State and New Jersey.
These wildlife corridors make sure animals stay unharmed as they travel to look for food and mates. They also keep people out of harm’s way. When large animals cross busy roads, the crashes can be perilous for drivers. In the U.S., more than 1 million car accidents each year involve wild animals.
On Christmas Island, the crab bridge helps people in another way too. It’s a place to experience an incredible migration. Every year, hundreds of tourists from around the world visit the bridge. They ooh and aah as they watch the crabs.
And who can blame them? It’s a pretty amazing sight to see.
iStockPhoto/Getty Images
About 190 million red crabs live on Christmas Island.
FACT FINDER!
WHERE are the crabs migrating to?
WHAT is a wildlife corridor?
WHY do animals need special bridges and tunnels?
FACT FINDER!
WHERE are the crabs migrating to?
WHAT is a wildlife corridor?
WHY do animals need special bridges and tunnels?
This article was originally published in the October/November 2022 issue.
This article was originally published in the October/November 2022 issue.
