A rare, ultra-rare, orange lobster named Clementine has been returned to its natural habitat after being discovered in a Long Island supermarket seafood section. According to Humane Long Island, only one in 30 million lobsters is naturally orange, making Clementine a unique find.
Initially, the store’s owner reached out to an aquarium to take Clementine in, but it declined the offer. It was then that Southampton Animal Shelter stepped in and worked with Humane Long Island to secure the lobster’s safe release.
The advocacy group got Clementine back into the sea on Tuesday, rehabilitating her in a cold saltwater tank before releasing her into the ocean. Within hours, Clementine began swimming, foraging, and exploring the Long Island Sound, playfully following them around before disappearing into the depths of the ocean.
According to John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island, lobsters like Clementine deserve to live freely in their natural habitat. They don’t want to be boiled in someone’s pot or stay in a cramped aquarium.
Lobsters often appear red or orange when cooked due to a pigment called astaxanthin stored under their hard shell. However, while alive, they can come in various colours, including brown and blue.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/ultra-rare-orange-lobster-returned-to-ocean-after-ending-up-in-new-york-supermarket-13205238