What do you do when you think you’ve found a new species? Well, you probably freak out, imagine the glory you might receive, and then realize how dangerous the situation actually was. For Mark, that’s pretty much what happened.
It’s instinctive to grab for something without thinking, but this story might make you think twice next time!
Huge Discovery
His eyes got wide, and he muttered, “Don’t move.” Then, he backed away from this terrifying scene. Mark didn’t know what was going on and then noticed legs and claws. The man’s legs froze, and his pulse quickened.
Huge Discovery
Mark Pierrot
It was just an ordinary day for Mark. The 32-year-old man took a walk with his friend to their secret location in Christmas Island National Park. Mark loved the outdoors, but he didn’t realize that this trip had some turns and twists.
Mark Pierrot
Christmas Island
Though it’s called Christmas Island, it’s a tropical place and located between Australia and Indonesia. Mark settled on the island about three years prior, and it’s only home for 1,400 residents. Originally, he went for vacation and then decided to stay.
Christmas Island
Adventure
A new day dawned, and Mark wanted an adventure. He proposed a route to David, who was excited. They ate quickly before packing and meeting, but they had no idea what they might find.
Adventure
Secret Route
The two men headed toward a secret hot spring. Locals had told them where to go, and they wanted to see it. Some say this was the most well-kept secret out there, and Mark and David couldn’t stop themselves from checking it out.
Secret Route
Blocked
After they had been walking for an hour, Mark realized that thick vegetation blocked their path. There was no way around it all. Initially, he thought it was from a boulder, but then it ran away, so it definitely couldn’t be a rock!
Blocked
Strange Things
What had he seen? Mark’s blood ran cold, but David didn’t notice. Then, Mark decided to follow the creature to find out what it was. They should have turned around!
Strange Things
Shock
After they started following it, they found the creature. It had striking colors and was similar to a crab but also different. Driven more by curiosity, Mark approached it, even if it wasn’t the best idea ever.
Shock
Beautiful
This creature had beautiful red, orange, and blue colors with thick legs to show its powerful stance. Amazed, Mark inched closer to see the spines growing out of its shell and heard the clicking noise. Then, he almost tripped when he figured out what he had found!
Beautiful
Making a Connection
It was a prehistoric crab going back 95 million years ago. In fact, Mark remembered reading about them becoming extinct. He looked again and noted the bent claws, huge size, and big eyes while his heart started pounding.
Making A Connection
Prehistoric Crab
American scientists found a fossil of the prehistoric crab in 2019. They called it Callichimaera perplexa because of the beautiful colors and unique appearance. Mark took a photo of it with his phone and wondered if he’d seen the reappearance of the lost species!
Prehistoric Crab
Staring in Shock
Mark bent down and called to his friend. When David came from the bushes, he said he’d been looking for Mark and then noticed the huge beast. Without thinking, Mark tossed his phone to David and asked for a picture.
Staring In Shock
Picked It Up
Mark automatically picked up the grab with his hands to pose with it. However, he had no idea what might happen. He then called the National Park, feeling sure that he’d found this lost species. Interest in the beast then built fast.
Picked It Up
The Anomaly
Max Orchard was a crab expert with 22 years on the island. He worked with world researchers on the crab varieties found there. In a sense, the location was an anomaly for the various species that lived there, so finding a new species wasn’t far-fetched.
The Anomaly
Endangered or Reappearance
Orchard knew it was possible for a species to come back from extinction. It’s called species revivalism, and it’s where scientists generate an organism of the same type. If that wasn’t it, Mark might have found a rare and endangered species.
Endangered Or Reappearance
Another One
Mark finished the call and posted his photo online. David called out to him while he was doing it, telling him not to move. Confused, Mark searched around and saw a 3-meter claw swinging by his leg.
Another One
The Fright
The unexpectedness of it made Mark drop his phone. He stepped back at the shock of finding two. He believed that these creatures were friendly and stayed with them until the crab expert arrived. Was this truly a long-forgotten creature?
The Fright
Coconut Crabs
When Max Orchard got there, Mark showed him the creatures. With a smile, Orchard told him that they were coconut crabs. This special species lived there for decades, but Mark wondered if they were dangerous.
Coconut Crabs
Look for Something
Orchard said he’d seen one that was 1 meter across and 4.5kg in weight. They weren’t sure how old they were. Then, he instructed Mark to put out his hands.
Look For Something
A Warning
Most people knew not to touch things they didn’t know, but they were friendly giants. Orchard ensured that Mark had no cuts on his hands. If he had, he’d require a tetanus shot. However, Orchard did have a warning.
A Warning
Thieves
Max told him that the crabs liked to steal. He pointed at the phone that was in the claws of one of these coconut crabs. Gently, Max grabbed the phone and explained that they have an odd behavior of stealing and breaking whatever locals leave behind.
Thieves
Notorious History
Throughout the years, Orchard had responded to various threat reports. One time, the Army trained on the island and had rifles. The commanding officer called to say that one had been stolen. Who was the culprit?
Notorious History
The Robber Crab
The coconut crab was the bad guy. They ended up finding the rifle later, and it was crushed. Many reports indicate that the crabs steal cameras and shoes from tourists who carelessly leave them lying around.
The Robber Crab
Lifespan
Overall, coconut crabs are the biggest land-based crabs and live the longest. They might live 120 years, so Mark probably handled one that was older than him. While they aren’t dangerous, their claws can be harmful; Mark was very lucky!
Lifespan
Rite of Passage
Mark left the area completely unscathed. However, he wondered why the locals never said to watch out for them. When asked, they said he needed to find more about the island on his own. However, his post from earlier started gaining attention!
Rite Of Passage
Online Stir
Mark’s picture of the unique beast caused an online stir. If you didn’t live on the island or know much about crabs, you might never have guessed what he held. Many believed he found a new species. Though he didn’t, this man might have!
Online Stir
Collective Surprise
When this man saw the look the vet gave him, he knew this wasn’t an overreaction. The shock was clear on all the faces. People grabbed their phones to take photos as proof. No one could believe that if they didn’t see it themselves.
Collective Surprise
Clean Freak
Nathan was a clean person, so he didn’t like to see the garbage pile up in the neighbor’s yards. However, when all sanitation workers were on strike, the bags multiplied. His problems had just started!
Clean Freak
Trash Strike
The rotting stench of food was held back by some flimsy plastic, and so it oozed out. It didn’t matter how many scented candles or air sprays he used; it didn’t go away. About a week into the strike, Nathan noticed something strange.
Trash Strike
Thinking the Worst
Immediately, he worried that the trash can was hiding raccoons or rats. As he started thinking more, he came up with other scenarios that made him cringe. Though he avoided the trash, he had to do something about it.
Thinking The Worst
Problems Abound
Nathan asked the neighbors if they were dealing with rodents, and he found out he wasn’t suffering alone. The solution was to put out mouse traps to lure out the pests and get rid of them, but there was a problem.
Problems Abound
Out of Control
Overall, Nathan hoped that the rat might come out itself so that he didn’t have to fight with the trash. He set up various traps, lacing them with cheese and other tempting foods. After climbing into bed, he heard a snap.
Out Of Control
Confusion
After breakfast, Nathan went out to check. He saw many of the traps had gotten set off, but there were no bodies. Then, he heard a sound from the large pile of bags; it wasn’t a squeak from vermin.
Confusion
Strange Sounds
Instead, Nathan heard a gurgling, muffled sound. He hoped the trash didn’t get fused to a rat to create some weird new species. Slowly, he pulled the bags away and waited for an attack.
Strange Things
Dirt and Fur
What emerged from the trash was a black and gray fur that was trying to get away. Nathan wanted to run and refused to pick it up, but then he heard sounds he recognized.
Dirt And Fur
Driving to the Vet
Nathan finally grabbed the ball of dirty fur, laid some towels in his backseat, and went to the vet. This creature had to be checked out. Still, he wondered how long it was living in the trash!
Driving To The Vet
Professional Help
They finally reached the vet, and those high-pitched sounds got louder. He knew he made the right choice to call a vet; this animal was hurt!
Professional Help
Street Animal
The team at the veterinarian’s office took photos of the cat and gasped at it. The mass of fur was matted. Nathan’s face showed shock as they kept clipping at 7 pounds of fur to reveal the cat’s appearance.
Street Animal
True Self
This was a beautiful street cat that got attracted to the food and warmth from the garbage. However, it was a pure white color with all the fur gone. Finally, a bath was ordered!
True Self
Friendly Cat
Though strays are often aggressive, this one craved attention of any sort. Nathan decided to give it a loving home, even though his clean-freak nature screamed against it! This poor cat found a forever home because of one man’s courage and attentiveness!
Friendly Cat