NEW YORK (CNN) -- A giant lobster named George escaped a dinner-table fate and was released Saturday into the Atlantic Ocean after a New York seafood restaurant granted him his freedom, according to a statement from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.George the lobster was a "sort of mascot" for City Crab and Seafood in New York.
The lobster, which PETA said was 140 years old and weighed 20 pounds, had been confined to a tank at City Crab and Seafood restaurant in Manhattan when two customers alerted the animal group.
The PETA statement did not say how the extraordinary age estimate was determined, but restaurant manager Keith Valenti told CNN that lobsters can grow a pound every seven to 10 years, and he put George's weight at 18 to 20 pounds.
"I've been here for 12 years, and that's the biggest lobster I've ever seen," Valenti said.
He said the lobster had been "sitting in the restaurant's tank and acting as a sort of mascot," but when PETA got involved and requested the release, it "seemed like the right thing to do."
PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement, "We applaud the folks at City Crab and Seafood for their compassionate decision to allow this noble old-timer to live out his days in freedom and peace.
"We hope that their kind gesture serves as an example that these intriguing animals don't deserve to be confined to tiny tanks or boiled alive."
Shedding the tight confines of his old restaurant display tank, George was driven to Maine by PETA members and was returned to his natural habitat on the ocean floor Saturday, the organization said.
23 comments:
I can't believe that a lobster can live up to 140 years old.
one big logster I wonder why knowone ate him.
That is a big lobster! That would have been a sight to see!
love the lobster information but I got 1 question why would someone want a lobster that weighs 18 pounds. It could attack them or something couldn't it?
Wow! I never knew that lobsters could weigh as much as 140 pounds. I think that was a very well writen story.
George is a huge lobester! He has big pinchers. Ive never seen a lobester that huge hes like a monster!
That solar storm about the sun is so cool! I never new that the sun makes the northern lights. The sun must be very powerful to hit the earth hard.The sun is cool!
The volcanoes we learned about last year was awesome!! I never knew that there was more then one kind of volcanoe!Mr.Scangas web site is so awesome!
wow i can't belive the lobster left the table in a seafood reastrant in new york
I can't believe George weighs 20 lbs. I'm going fishing in the Atlantic ocean.
Im glad they didnt eat george the lobster and that they let him free!Also thats kewl they have a new mascot
I would LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!! to eat that 140 year old lobster.He muts have been preserved by aleions or something.
that was preety interesting. how come no one ate him? that was wierd that he was like the mascot. i bet if someone atee him it would be like a feast.
The lobster was pretty big.If I got that lobster I would pretty Famous and rich.
I can't believe how old he is! That is the oldest lobster I will ever know! That is interesting that he was 20 pounds.
Im happy George is free now! I cant beleive he was 140 and weigthed 20 pounds!! Now thats a feast!! I hope hw stays safe!!
cool story. I cant believe a lobster can be 140 years old and weigh 20 pounds. Thats nice how they let the lobster go.
He should hav been released a long time ago i agree with warren
I think it is cool that lobsters can live 140 years. I thik they should be cooked.
George is huge. Ididnt know that lobsters get that big and that old.And when he escaped I dont want to be those people.
george is a really old and big lopster and was pretty heavy
I thought that they did the right thing to let George go.It was a good story that was very interresting.
Post a Comment