Worth Rs 11 lakhs: All you need to know about why horseshoe crab is priced high
By Lokmat English Desk | Published: July 26, 2023 12:07 PM2023-07-26T12:07:45+5:302023-07-26T12:07:45+5:30
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Everyone knows that the blood of all living beings is red. But many people do not know that the blood of some animals is not red but a different color. We are going to tell you about one such crab. Whose blood is blue and is as expensive as you tend to be know.
The name of this creature with blue blood is Horseshoe crab. This is a rare species of crab. Experts say that the horseshoe crab is one of the oldest creatures in the world. This life has been on earth for about 45 million years.
Found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, this Horseshoe is found in spring from May to June. The most special thing is that they come to the beach during high tide on full moon nights.
Now, if we talk about the price of crabs, the price of one liter of their blue blood is up to 11 lakh rupees in the international market. It is also called the most expensive liquid in the world.
The blood of this crab is used to make different medicines. It is said that scientists have been using horseshoe crab blood since the 1970s.
Through this blood, scientific instruments and drugs are tested for bacteria. It is also used for other medicines.
According to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 50 million horseshoe crabs are used for medical purposes each year.
Experts say that horse shoe crab's blue blood contains copper. There is also a special chemical that accumulates around any bacteria and identifies them.
Horseshoe crabs are bled by piercing a hole near their heart. Thirty percent of the blood is removed from a crab and then released into the sea.
According to one report, ten to thirty percent of crabs die during the blood extraction process itself. After that, female crabs face difficulties in breeding.
Currently, there are only four species of horseshoe crabs left in the world. Many species are endangered due to pollution. There is always a threat to this species of crab. Due to their price blood, their black marketing is also abundant.