Indian Sacred Chank

Lipton, A P and Rao, G Syda and Jagadis, I (2013) Indian Sacred Chank. Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi.

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Abstract

The utilization of molluscs is probably as old as mankind itself, and when humans were primarily interested in what they could directly eat or use, molluscs were important sources of food, ornaments and materials for making tools. Shells have been exploited for a wide variety of purposes and a rich amount of information could be obtained from archaeological sources that document the traditional use of gastropods. A few mollusc species are also thought to have magical, sacred or medicinal properties such as the sacred chank (Turbinella pyrum) that has been revered for centuries in India. ^ e Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute has been monitoring the sacred chank resources for several years throughout the Indian coasts. A team of scientists of the CMFR Institute have maintained the live sacred chanks in captive conditions, studied their biology, breeding behavior and also reared the youngones. Sacred chanks were marked (tagged) and released in selected marine habitats such along the south east and south west coasts including in Gulf of Mannar to record their natural growth and migratory pattern. The different spheres of the sacred chanks biology, religious and ornamental values are presented in this publication.

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