Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Rare blue lobster discovered at Red Lobster is granted reprieve from the pot and sent to zoo

Conservation partnership helped save ‘very very rare’ blue lobster from being boiled 

Gino Spocchia
Tuesday 28 July 2020 05:52 EDT
Comments
A rare blue lobster sent to Akron Zoo in Ohio, after being delivered to restaurant
A rare blue lobster sent to Akron Zoo in Ohio, after being delivered to restaurant (Akron Zoo / Facebook)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A rare blue lobster was saved from becoming someone’s dinner thanks to an Ohio restaurant who sent the creature to the zoo instead of the cooking pot.

The rescue came when an employee at the Red Lobster restaurant in Cuyahoga Falls noticed the creature’s rare colour when unloading a delivery.

Staff named the lobster Clawde, after the restaurant chain’s mascot, and contacted conservationists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The aquarium then contacted Akron Zoo, who are partners alongside Red Lobster in a statewide conservation partnership called Seafood Watch.

“Our animal care staff was able to quickly spring into action and prepare a new home for him,” said the zoo on social media.

Blue American lobsters are “very very rare”, added the zoo, making Clawde one among two million lobsters who have the unusual colour.

The blue colouring is caused by a genetic anomaly in the American lobster, whose shells are ordinarily red, said the zoo.

“Clawde is acclimating to his new home here at the Akron Zoo, in a special tank that has been dubbed ‘Clawde’s Man Cave’ by his care team,” the zoo added.

The Komodo Kingdom building where Clawde is now living is currently closed to guests due to Covid-19 measures.

The discovery comes after a Massachusetts restaurant discovered a blue lobster in 2019, and sent the creature to an aquarium for conservation, reported CNN.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in