An exceptionally rare orange lobster was released back into the ocean off Long Island on Wednesday after being spotted at a supermarket in upstate New York—barely escaping being served as dinner.
The lobster, affectionately named Jean-Clawd Van Damme, is considered a “1-in-30-million find.” It was saved from a Tops supermarket near Rochester by Kyle Brancato, who quickly recognized the rare creature’s significance and rescued it.
“The Atlantic Ocean is quite a distance from Rochester, so he was stressed,” explained John Di Leonardo, the executive director of Humane Long Island, who was contacted by Brancato for assistance.
Brancato managed to keep Jean-Clawd safe in a cooler filled with tank water until volunteers could transport the crustacean to Long Island’s North Shore, where Di Leonardo provided care before its release into the ocean on Wednesday morning.
“We gave him a second chance at life,” Di Leonardo told The Post regarding the unique lobster. “Every year, around 100 million lobsters are killed in the U.S., so it’s significant that he survived and made it back to the water.”
The release coincided with National Lobster Day, celebrated on September 25, just one day earlier.
“I wanted to challenge the traditional views surrounding this holiday, as it is predominantly a marketing endeavor,” Di Leonardo remarked. “Many nations, such as Switzerland, Norway, and New Zealand, have outlawed boiling lobsters alive due to its cruelty—lobsters experience every moment, and the process is prolonged.”
Having returned eight lobsters to their natural habitats in the past two years, Di Leonardo asserts that lobsters experience significant stress after being caught and remain deprived of food while confined in grocery store tanks, which can last a month.
“Their stress levels lead to aggressive behavior, often resulting in self-mutilation or cannibalism among them,” he stated. “The rubber bands on their claws inflict considerable pain.”
Di Leonardo typically spends about an hour in the water with lobsters brought back to the wild, ensuring their health and well-being.
“Each lobster has its own unique personality,” he explained. “Some threaten by lifting their claws, while others swim away, and on two occasions, they came closer before retreating.”
“It’s always an enjoyable experience.”
Di Leonardo has encouraged any stores interested in giving a lobster a pardon for the occasion to reach out to his organization.
Past lobsters on Long Island have been “pardoned” at locations like Northport Fish & Lobster, Stop and Shop in Southampton and Syosset, and ShopRite of Bay Shore.
“Whether they’re blue, brown, or orange, they all deserve the chance to live,” Di Leonardo added.
