| | |
|
| Film Title | Red Crabs, Crazy Ants | |
| | Scientific Field | Environment/Ecology/Natural History |
| | Duration | 52 |
| | Organisation | Natural History New Zealand |
| | Country | New Zealand |
| | Website | www.naturalhistory.co.nz |
| | Producer | Mike Piper (Piper |
| | Director | Mike Piper |
| | Previous Award |
| | Synopsis |
| | On an island 360 kilometres (223 miles) south of Jakarta, one of |
| | the most extraordinary biological events on earth takes place - |
| | the amazing red crab migration and spawning. |
| | |
| | Each year millions of these creatures head to the Christmas |
| | Island coastline for a spectacular mass spawning. But while this |
| | should be increasing their numbers, the reverse is happening. |
| | |
| | During the annual migration across the island, the red crab faces |
| | enemies in many different forms, including minute yellow crazy |
| | ants. These ants release formic acid as they crawl over and |
| | around the crabs which, with no defence against the ferocity of |
| | the onslaught, become stressed and die within hours. |
| | |
| | Scientists examining the problem must find a way to prevent |
| | these attacks and in doing so save the ecology of the Christmas |
| | Island rainforest. |