A family is faced with an unexpected encounter with dozens of giant robber crabs. Their tranquil camping barbecue on the stunning shores of Christmas Island, Australia, turned into a horrible moment.
These ferocious-looking crustaceans, also known as coconut crabs, measuring up to a meter in length, surrounded the unsuspecting family in search of food.
As the family enjoyed an al fresco meal, the enormous crabs swarmed around them, attracted by the enticing aroma of their barbecue. Despite their intimidating appearance, these crabs are harmless, although their name suggests otherwise, as they are known for their tendency to pilfer items from campsites.
The post was originally shared in 2020, but now it is going viral again after an unknown user shared it on Reedit and gained attention.
The moment of capture showed that more than 52 of these clawsome creatures eagerly awaited a chance to snack on some leftovers.
Winter McKendrick, the daughter of another family on the trip, remained unfazed as the enormous crabs encircled her while she sat in her fold-up camping chair, enjoying her dinner.
Amy Luetich and her family, residents of Christmas Island, had been camping in Grants Well, a jungle area of the island, along with other families.
Mrs. Luetich revealed that they had camped in the area multiple times but had never encountered such a large number of robber crabs before.
When they arrived, they spotted 20 crabs under a tree, which had started to seed. However, as soon as they began cooking, the crabs swarmed around them, and Mrs. Luetich's son counted a total of 52 crabs. His task became to pick them up and move them away from the dining area, a responsibility he relished.
As the night wore on, some crabs even attempted to climb onto the table, and one adventurous crab ventured onto the barbecue itself.
Despite their precautions, the Luetich family shared that one of the camping groups felt a persistent tapping on the outside of their tent throughout the night.
The captivating images of the encounter were shared on a Christmas Island tourism Facebook page, accompanied by a playful caption: 'Robber crabs behaving badly! A couple of local Christmas Island families had a few extra mouths to feed at their BBQ over the weekend."
One person said: AAARRRGGGHHH. I would have been outta there so fast!!
A second wrote: This looks like something from a horror movie!
A third commented: I lived there for 2 years and I still talk about these crabs. They are amazing. We would camp at the beach and the minute you start getting things set out, they come
Another said: No different to seagulls crowding around you when you have fish and chips really, is it? They're just little animals hoping they'll get lucky for a snack.
Someone else said: Oh god. I'm having nightmares now. Attack of the huge crabs. Eek. Run, Forrest, run.
The family's encounter with the giant robber crabs during their camping barbecue serves as a reminder of the incredible biodiversity that can be found on Christmas Island.
While the crabs' appearance may be intimidating, their harmless nature allows for peaceful coexistence with humans.
In a world increasingly disconnected from nature, encounters like these serve as a reminder of the beauty and unpredictability of the natural world.
Watch the video below:
