A rare orange lobster was returned to the ocean after being discovered in the seafood section of a New York grocery store.
According to reports, Humane Long Island, the animal advocacy group responsible for the release, described the lobster as “an ultra-rare 1-in-30-million orange lobster.” Video footage of the release shows the lobster being carefully removed from an orange and gray container by Humane Long Island team members. The team removed the rubber bands from the lobster’s claws before releasing it into the water.
“Good luck, buddy!” a voice off-screen says as the lobster begins its journey back to the sea.
The lobster was originally found earlier in the summer at a Stop and Shop in Southampton, Long Island, as part of a shipment of conventional brown lobsters. Typically, American lobsters are greenish-brown or olive-green and only turn red or red-orange after cooking, according to NOAA.
The rare orange lobster quickly became a local celebrity at the Southampton grocery store, where staff named her “Pinky” and provided her with shrimp. The store initially offered to send the lobster to the Long Island Aquarium.
After being alerted by the Southampton Animal Foundation, Humane Long Island Executive Director John Di Leonardo coordinated with the grocery store management to rehabilitate and return the lobster to the wild. The lobster was then placed in a cold saltwater tank and received veterinary care.
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The lobster was renamed “Clementine” after the fruit of a similar color. Humane Long Island reported that Clementine adapted quickly to her environment, swimming, foraging, and exploring Long Island Sound before disappearing into the depths of the ocean.
Di Leonardo emphasized the sensitivity and intelligence of lobsters, urging the public to respect them and avoid consuming them. “Like all aquatic animals, lobsters suffer when removed from their ocean homes to be eaten or confined to cramped aquariums,” he said. “Humane Long Island encourages everyone to celebrate Clementine’s successful return to the wild by showing compassion for all lobsters.”
In addition to Clementine, Di Leonardo revealed that his team had rescued two more orange lobsters from the area. These lobsters were found at a Stop and Shop in East Setauket and Northport Fish and Lobster, and were released back into the ocean where Clementine had been returned.
