Horseshoe Crab Fortnight exhibition enhances understanding of “living fossil”

The horseshoe crab was the focus of a special exhibition jointly presented by City University of Hong Kong (CityU), Hong Kong Wetland Park (HKWP) and the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation (OPCFHK) from 7 to 18 August.

 

The aim of “Horseshoe Crab Fortnight Hong Kong” is to enhance the public’s understanding about this “living fossil”.

 

The crabs, which date back hundreds of millions of years, pre-dating dinosaurs, are important to scientists. Their “blue” blood is an effective toxin detector in pharmaceutical tests, contributing to the development of medical science.

 

During the fortnight, the public can learn about the crabs’ eating, moulting and mating behaviour as well as hear about conservation tips through an array of activities such as horseshoe crab face-painting, an origami cum badge workshop, and a public lecture titled “Thinking of the Past: Horseshoe Crabs in Hong Kong”.

 

Dr Paul Shin Kam-shing, Associate Professor in CityU’s Department of Biology and Chemistry and Co-Chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Horseshoe Crab Specialist Group will speak at the lecture.

 

In addition, the first-ever Mainland China–Hong Kong–Taiwan tripartite student video conference on horseshoe crab conservation was held on 10 August.  Student representatives from Pok Oi Hospital Chan Kai Memorial College shared stories about the horseshoe crabs through a video conference with representatives from Quanzhou Normal University and Shin-Tsen Primary School.