Crab Island


Crab Island is in the northernmost Cape York.

It is a small island just off the coast of Jardine Swamps south of Mutee Heads and the mouth of Jardine River.

And it has got its name from the shape of it.


If you look at it on a map or a satellite image, what you see is two crab-like claws.


Why would you go out there is the remoteness and the wildlife, and it may be not worth the effort for all.
   crab island

But if you love the wildlife,
   crab island pelicans

... there are the flocks of pelicans,
   crab island pelicans

.. and at certain times of the year there is more :-)
   crab island turtle track

During the turtle nesting season, there are turtle tracks all around the island's beaches, as the females have made their way to the land to make the nest and lay eggs, then return to the ocean.
   crab island turtle tracks

Green sea turtle is more common in a lot of other places but on the Crab Island it happens to be the Flatback sea turtle. This turtle breeds in many places in northern Australia, but Crab Island happens to be the most significant breeding ground in the world for this species).

turtle tracks turtle nesting turtle nest

Crab Island Crocodiles

And it is not to wonder then, that crocodiles have learned it.
   crab island crocodiles

During the turtle nesting season, Crab Island is a top place to spot crocodiles - what you see on the photo above are not logs!
   crab island crocodiles

They have learned that this time of the year there are lots of baby turtles walking out to the sea.
   crab island saltwater crocodiles

And they have all placed themselves in their way in the wait for the meal.
   crab island saltwater crocodile

You don't usually see saltwater crocodiles laying in groups since they are territorial animals.
   australian saltwater crocodile

They all come in here from their territories, and simply tolerate each other for the sake of the big meal.





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