Killing horseshoe crabs for good karma? Misguided Hong Kong Buddhists send pre-dinosaur species to their death, say conservationists
Aquatic ecology experts warn that releasing the creatures into the wild as part of a Buddhist ceremony may endanger the species
Horseshoe crabs, an ancient marine creature that outlived dinosaurs, are coming under threat from religious groups who believe they are saving them by releasing them back into the sea.
The centuries-old Buddhist practice is based on the belief that humans can be reincarnated in any animal form. By releasing seafood such as crabs, fish and clams back into the sea, Buddhists believe they are creating good karma by saving them from ending up on people’s dinner plates.
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But the chances of horseshoe crabs surviving the ordeal are slim, especially if they are released near piers where the water is more polluted and they fail to adapt to a new environment.
“They think they are letting them live, but actually they’re sending them off to die,” said Professor Kenneth Leung Mei-yee, who is an expert in aquatic ecology at the University of Hong Kong.
The creature, often intentionally caught by fisherman to sell to religious groups, can only survive on muddy shores as juveniles or in waters close to their natural spawning site as adults.