An extremely rare orange lobster was saved from being eaten by others after being rescued from a New York City Stop & Shop.
“Clementine” – as she is now affectionately known – arrived at a Stop & Shop store in Southampton, Long Island, sometime before Thursday, July 4, with a load of traditional brown lobsters.
Her amber glow, which occurs only once in 30 million, made her an instant celebrity at the store. According to Humane Long Island, management fed her shrimp and the manager’s daughter gave her the name “Pinky.”
When the store’s offer to have Clementine pardoned by the Long Island Aquarium was rejected, it seemed like she was more or less destined for the cooking pot.
Luckily for her, staff at the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation learned of her plight and contacted Humane Long Island, who in turn contacted the store management.
The store agreed to donate the rare lobster for rehabilitation, and after a short trip in a cold saltwater tank, Clementine was released into the sea.
“Within a few hours, Clementine was swimming, foraging and exploring Long Island Sound, playfully following us before disappearing into the depths of the ocean, where she travels up to 100 miles or more each year,” the animal welfare group said on Facebook.
As a token of appreciation, Humane Long Island sent Stop & Shop management a gift basket containing vegan lobster-shaped chocolate and vegan crab-free cakes, as well as PETA’s vegan starter kit.
Click here to watch video of Clementine’s release into Long Island Sound.
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