Horseshoe Crabs
Types of Use
Harvested for blood, which is used in pharmaceutical development.
Species Impacted
Limulus polyphemus
Total Animals Impacted
400,000 to 500,000 bled annually
Around 50,000 die from this process
Key Welfare Considerations
Horseshoe crab blood is extremely sensitive to bacteria and toxins, meaning it can be used to test for contamination during drug development.
Horseshoe crabs are captured, a small amount of blood is drawn, and they are returned to the see. A significant percentage of the horseshoe crabs die from the process.
One quart of horseshoe crab blood is worth an estimated $15,000 USD (as of 2018).
Synthetic alternatives are under development, and may replace the use of horseshoe crab blood in the near future.