Millions of crabs head for the sea in Cuba

STORY: Millions of crabs in Cuba are marching towards the sea

Location: Cienaga de Zapata, Cuba

After the island's spring rains begin, the crabs emerge from the forest

and migrate down to the Bay of Pigs to spawn in the sea

Most years, crossing roads like this one can be treacherous

But global lockdowns have meant less traffic

and residents say their numbers have increased

[Reinaldo Santana Aguilar, Scientist, Cuba's environment ministry]

“Transportation was quite limited, people spent a lot of time at home. It is very likely that this has caused the recovery of the crab population. That is why such high migrations have been seen at this time. It’s on the entire highway from Playa Larga to Playa Giron, and that responds to a reproductive migration that the red crab makes every year.”