Trillions of baby Christmas Island crabs turn roads into 'red carpet' in their annual migration

Whether you find them cute or creepy, trillions of baby red crabs have been born on Christmas Island, starting their journey from the ocean to tropical rainforests. Key points: A senior ranger says trillions of baby red crabs have hatched on Christmas Island The crustaceans are travelling from the ocean into the rainforests The migration has prompted road closures and other quirky measures to protect the babies Christmas Island National Park senior ranger Azmi Yon said the tiny critters began emerging from the ocean over the past two weeks and were already crossing the roads. After spawning in the ocean, baby red crabs take about nine days to travel inland, where they stay hidden in rocky outcrops and forest debris for the first three years of their life. Baby red crabs are covering roads and paths on Christmas Island as they head inland.