Christmas Island is one of natures most impressive feats, an island full of natural wonders: from the unique annual red crab migration to rare and unusual birds and glorious deserted beaches where the only footprints in the sand are those made by nesting turtles.
The Island is home to millions of bright red crabs but they are being threatened with extinction by an aggressive species of acid-squirting ant.
Yellow crazy ants have now halved the island's population of red crabs from 120 million to around 60 million since research began 15 years ago.
Scientists have discovered that the ants kill the crabs by spraying them with formic acid. It makes the crabs blind, they start frothing at the mouth, and they die in as little as two hours. The ants then eat their insides out. They now cover the whole island.
The Island is home to millions of bright red crabs but they are being threatened with extinction by an aggressive species of acid-squirting ant.
Yellow crazy ants have now halved the island's population of red crabs from 120 million to around 60 million since research began 15 years ago.
Scientists have discovered that the ants kill the crabs by spraying them with formic acid. It makes the crabs blind, they start frothing at the mouth, and they die in as little as two hours. The ants then eat their insides out. They now cover the whole island.