Make a way, grab the crabs! This is how these families describe their adventure while enjoying a trip to a distant Australian island.
Amy Luetich, her family and friends camp out on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. They had all planned a great trip to a foreign island, but they did not know that their plans would be ruined by some unexpected guests. While people having a BBQ, suddenly a herd of coconut crabs decided to disrupt their party.
The intent of the arthropods was very clear – to steal and swallow anything they could get their hands on. But since these invaders are also known as predatory crabs, you would not expect anything else from them. Dozens of crabs, attracted by the inevitable smell, decided to destroy Luetich and her friends’ picnic.
“We lit a fire in our camp, and when we started cooking, the smell of food attracted a large number of predatory crabs,” the woman stated The Dodo. “We were sitting down trying to our dinner and they were everywhere!
“My son counted 52 of them. Then they started to climb on the table and another climbed on the barbecue. We moved our tents away from where we ate, but one family was not so lucky.
Coconut crabs are the largest crust on Earth. They easily weigh more than 8 pounds and can measure up to 3 feet. Their lifespan is over 50 years. Christmas Island is home to the world’s largest predatory crab population.
“Christmas Island has the world’s largest and most secure population of these gentle giants, which can live for more than 50 years,” reports Parks Australia. “They are found in many parts of the island, usually staying during the day and coming out at night or on cloudy days.”
