After another animal rescue effort, an organization rescued a rare orange lobster and returned it to its natural habitat in the ocean. On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, Humane Long Island took to its Facebook page to share details of the incident.
The organization facilitated the return of a rare crustacean found in a supermarket seafood section in Southampton, New York. According to the organization, the lobster, named Clementine, was immediately a celebrity after his discovery in the seafood section of a Stop & Shop.
The organization stated that the lobster had arrived with a shipment of other lobsters just before the July 4, 2024, Independence Day celebration. In the post, Humane Long Island mentioned the manager’s daughter named it Clementine, while it was fed prawns by the staff.
What Happened to the Orange Lobster?
After its discovery at the Stop & Shop store, the store contacted a nearby aquarium to house the animal, but the aquarium turned it down. Humane Long Island became involved after the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation informed them about the rare animal.
ALSO READ: Senator Blames Greed for Red Lobster’s Bankruptcy, Says It’s Not Endless Shrimp
Subsequently, after reaching out, Stop & Shop consented to release the rare lobster for rehabilitation and release to the wild. The organization stated that to rehabilitate the lobster, they collaborated with a veterinarian who prepared a cold saltwater tank.
Consequently, upon its return to its native environment, the animal was swimming, foraging, and exploring the Long Island Sound, playing around before vanishing into the ocean depths.
What Is the Rarest Color Lobster?
Although it may seem that all lobsters are the same, you will be shocked to learn about some of the unusual, one-in-a-million hues. Among all the color variations, the most rare variation is the albino lobster. The white lobster is so rare that the chance of finding one is one in 100.
This is the only lobster that, when cooked, will not become red because it has no color pigments at all. However, it would be preferable to give this to an aquarium. White lobsters are commonly referred to as translucent, ghost, or crystal lobsters due to their light pigmentation.
White-colored lobsters are extremely rare, occurring only once every 100 million lobsters or so every four to five years.
POLL—Should Laws Be Enacted To Protect LGBTQ+ Individuals From Workplace Discrimination?
White lobsters are usually the result of albinism, other genetic abnormalities, or a peculiar diet. To start a breeding program, an Irish fisherman donated a female white lobster he discovered in 2018 to Oceanworld Aquarium in Dingle, Ireland.
How Rare Are Orange Lobsters?
According to Humane Long Island, orange lobsters are so rare that the chance of finding them is one in 30 million. The organization continued that the probability of an orange lobster being restored to its native environment is less than finding them.
In reaction to the return of the orange lobster, the executive director of Humane Long Island and anthrozoologist, John Di Leonardo, issued a statement. “Lobsters are sensitive, intelligent animals who can travel as far as 100 miles or more each year,” Leonardo said. “Like all aquatic animals, lobsters will pain and suffer when taken from their ocean homes to be eaten or confined to cramped aquariums.”
Leonardo added, “Humane Long Island urges everyone to celebrate Clementine’s successful journey back to the wild by respecting all lobsters and not eating them because no compassionate person should boil an animal alive.”
A lobster’s color varies depending on what it consumes. As a result, feeding a lobster a different protein-rich diet can cause the shell to change color.
WATCH: Check Out These Important Baking Steps We Often Miss Out
Do Blue Lobsters Exist?
While the odds of catching a yellow lobster are one in 30 million, the blue lobster is one in 2 million. This makes them more common in comparison with other color variations. According to science, blue lobsters are rare because of a genetic mutation that gives them their blue color.
The blue lobsters are a result of a single locus within the American lobster’s SNA. This mutation leads to excessive production of a specific protein, creating bright blue pigment instead of the usual greenish-brown mix. However, it is unclear whether the blue lobster is a descendant of the original mutant blue lobster.
You Might Also Like:
James Ivory Opens Up About Why He Didn’t Come Out in the ’90s
Daily Dental Care Habits for a Healthier Smile
Source Says Jennifer Lopez “Is Upset and Disappointed” Amid Divorce With Ben Affleck
Allison Holker Finds Love Again a Year and a Half After Her Husband’s Death