Make way, the crabs are taking over! That’s how these families might perfectly describe the adventure they had while enjoying a picnic on a remote Australian island.
Amy Luetich, her family and a bunch o friends went camping on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. They’ve all planed a great picnic party on the exotic island, but little did they know their plans would be ruined by some uninvited guests. The folks were enjoying a BBQ when suddenly a herd of coconut crabs decided to crash their party.
The arthropods’ intentions were very clear – stealing and devouring anything they can get. But you won’t expect something else from these invaders since they’re also known as robber crabs. Attracted by the irresistible smell, dozens of crabs decided to ruin Luetich’s and her friends picnic.
“We lit our camp fire, and when we started cooking, the smell of the food attracted a whole huge number of robber crabs,” the woman told The Dodo. “We were sitting down trying to eat our dinner and they were everywhere!
“My son counted 52 of them. Then they started to climb up to the table, and another climbed onto the barbecue. We kept our tents away from where we had eaten, but one of the families haven’t been so lucky.”
The coconut crabs are the largest land crustacean on Earth. They can easily weigh over 8 pounds and measure 3 feet. Their lifespan is over 50 years. Christmas Island is home to the largest robber crabs population in the world.
“Christmas Island has the world’s largest and best protected population of these gentle giants, which can live to be more than 50 years old,” Parks Australia reports. “They are found in most parts of the island, usually sheltering during the day and venturing out at night or on overcast days.”
