Describe the picture.

Millions of Red Crabs Fill the Streets of

Christmas Island
December 2, 2021

Pre-reading questions:
1. Do you like eating seafood? Why or why not?
2. How often do you eat seafood?
Exercise 1
Vocabulary
spectacular - amazing to see or experience
Ex. The views from the cable car were  spectacular.

migration - the movement of a large number of animals from one

place to another at a particular time of year
Ex. The Arctic tern has one of the longest annual   migrations  of any
bird on earth.

crush - to press or squeeze something very hard so that it breaks,

loses its shape, etc.
Ex. The rear of the car was  crushed  in the accident.

mate - (of animals) to come together to produce young

Ex. Polar bears mate in spring.

burrow - a hole or tunnel in the ground made by an animal

Ex. Moles spend much of their life digging  burrows.

cycle - a set of events that repeat in the same

order
Ex. Many  cycles  occur in nature.
Exercise 2
Article
Millions of Red Crabs Fill the Streets of Christmas Island
Millions of red crabs on Australia's Christmas Island have traveled from the forest to
the coast to breed, creating a spectacular sight.  Christmas Island is in the Indian
Ocean south of Indonesia.

The huge migration of around 40 million crabs usually begins in October or November
when the first rains of the wet season start to fall.  It continues for about three weeks.

This year's migration started at the beginning of November, sending crabs onto the
island's streets. But they also climb in and on buildings, and even on people — if
they're in the way.

To help the crabs get to the coast safely, island staff close some roads, and the crabs
also have special bridges they can cross so they don't get crushed by people or cars.

When the crabs arrive at the coast, they mate in or near burrows built by the
males. The males then go back to the forest, and the females wait about two weeks for
their eggs to grow.

When the moon is in the final quarter of its cycle, the females release their eggs into
the sea before returning to the forest.  A little over a month later, red baby crabs climb
out of the Indian Ocean to find their way home.

In most years, very few or no baby crabs live long enough to go back to the forest,
because they are eaten by animals in the water. However, according to Parks Australia,
once or twice every 10 years a huge number will live — creating another spectacular
sight as the little red crabs climb out of the water to go home.

Exercise 3
Questions

1. Where is Christmas Island located?

2. When did this year's migration of red crabs begin?
3. Do male or female red crabs build burrows?

Exercise 4
Discussion
1 . What are your thoughts on the red crab migration on Christmas Island?
2. Would you be interested in seeing the migration in person?
3. Are there any migrations or other wildlife events that take place in your
country?
4. What are the most spectacular natural sights you've seen?
5. Have you been to Australia? If so, did you see any interesting animals while
you were there?

Exercise 5
Further Discussion
1. Are there any animals that people come to your country to see?

2. What marine animals would you like to see up close? Why?

3. What animals do you find most fascinating? Why?
4. Have you seen any good wildlife or nature documentaries recently?
5. What countries would you most like to visit for their wildlife?