‘Ultra rare’ 1 in 30 million orange lobster returns to the sea after discovery in NY supermarket: video

An incredibly rare orange lobster, identified as a one-in-thirty-million find, was returned to its natural habitat on Tuesday after being spotted at a grocery store in New York, as reported by the animal welfare organization, Humane Long Island.

This unique crustacean, now affectionately called “Jean-Clawd Van Dam,” stands out from the typical greenish-brown or olive-green American lobsters identified by NOAA.

Typically, these lobsters turn red or orange only after being cooked, which makes Jean-Clawd’s vibrant coloration markedly unusual.

Recent footage captured Jean-Clawd in a tank at a supermarket in Rochester, New York, followed by his release into Long Island Sound, overseen by John Di Leonardo, Executive Director of Humane Long Island. Di Leonardo expressed, “Lobsters are sensitive, intelligent creatures capable of traveling over 100 miles each year.”

He further emphasized, “Like all aquatic beings, lobsters experience pain and distress when they are removed from their ocean habitats for consumption or kept confined in small aquariums.”

In a statement, Humane Long Island pointed out that several countries, including Switzerland, Norway, and New Zealand, as well as the city of Reggio Emilia in Italy, have enacted laws prohibiting the boiling of lobsters alive while they remain conscious.

Humane Long Island argued that there is no need to boil lobsters alive.

Thanks to this recent rescue, Jean-Clawd avoided such an outcome and can continue to thrive as a distinctive orange gem in the wild.

Officials from Humane Long Island also stated that every year, approximately 100 million lobsters are captured and killed in the United States, including rare varieties like orange, yellow, and blue lobsters, which often end up as mere attractions in aquariums.

Humane Long Island also reiterated that lobsters, irrespective of their color—be it orange, blue, or the usual brown—are sentient beings that have a desire to live.

As noted by NOAA, the habitat of the American Lobster ranges from Newfoundland on Canada’s southeast coast down to North Carolina, with a significant 80% of lobsters caught originating from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maine.