With the arrival of the monsoon, hundreds of tiny red crabs have begun digging fresh burrows across the sand dunes of Kakra Beach in Cox’s Bazar, creating one of the coast’s most distinctive seasonal spectacles.
The beach, located south of Himchhari along the Marine Drive, is well known for its thriving population of red crabs. During the rainy season, the animals construct new burrows on the higher parts of the dunes, where they find shelter from waves, predators and changing tides.
Visitors can spot the small creatures cautiously emerging from their burrows before darting back underground at the slightest sign of human movement. Once the beach becomes quieter, the crabs return to the sand to forage, leaving behind countless tiny burrow entrances scattered across the dunes.
The seasonal display has made Kakra Beach a favourite destination for nature lovers and photographers, while also highlighting the ecological importance of the area’s fragile coastal habitat.
Environmentalists warn, however, that the crabs’ habitat is coming under increasing pressure from unregulated tourism. Vehicles driving over the dunes, heavy foot traffic and careless visitor behaviour frequently damage the burrows, reducing suitable breeding and sheltering areas.
They said the sandy dunes are vital to the crabs’ survival and reproduction and called for stricter management measures, including banning vehicles from the dunes and directing visitors along designated walkways to minimise disturbance.
Local residents have also urged visitors to avoid chasing, catching or disturbing the crabs and to refrain from walking over their burrows. They also stressed the importance of keeping the beach free of plastic and other waste to protect its biodiversity.
As fresh burrows spread across the rain-soaked dunes, the tiny red crabs serve as a reminder that Kakra Beach is more than a tourist attraction. It is also an important coastal ecosystem whose unique wildlife depends on careful conservation and responsible tourism.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Hussain Shetu
