PRATAP CHANDRA SWAIN, OP
Mahakalapada: The population of the rare blue-blooded horseshoe crab, which comes to the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary along the Kendrapada coast for mating, is reportedly declining, raising concerns among environmentalists over the species’ survival.
The Gahirmatha and Bhitarkanika areas of Kendrapada are home to several rare marine species.
The coastal areas of the Mahanadi delta, including Hukitola, Lunchghola, Solamuhan, Madali, Ekakulanasi and Satabhaya, are known to harbour saltwater crocodiles, dolphins, red crabs, horseshoe crabs, jellyfish, green mussels, sharks and other marine species.
The horseshoe crab, known for its distinctive horseshoe-shaped body and long pointed tail, is found along the coasts of the Pacific and Indian oceans, including the Bay of Bengal.
The species comes to the shore from deeper waters during the post-monsoon season, particularly between October and January, to mate during high tides around the full moon and new moon.
However, environmentalists claim that the species is gradually declining in the region due to changes in marine biodiversity and deaths caused by fishing activities and vessel movement.
“Many horseshoe crabs are being found dead along the coast.
They are also getting trapped in trawler and fishing nets, while movement of large vessels in the deep sea poses another threat,” environmentalist Samarendra Mahali said.
The horseshoe crab’s blood appears blue because it contains copper-based haemocyanin instead of iron-based haemoglobin.
Its blood is in demand globally for use in pharmaceutical and medical applications.
A few years ago, the Forest Department had prohibited the transportation of horseshoe crabs from the marine sanctuary area.
The ban subsequently stopped their transportation from the region, officials said. Environmentalists have called for geo-tagging of horseshoe crabs in the Gahirmatha and Bhitarkanika areas to help researchers study their population, movement and breeding patterns.
Asked about the status of the ongoing survey, Rajnagar DFO Varadaraj Gaonkar said the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Delhi, is conducting a survey in the Rajnagar and Bhadrak forest divisions.
“The survey is currently underway and its report has not been received yet,” he said.
