Restaurant's 140 years old live lobster freed!

[Zeus]

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A giant lobster named George escaped a dinner-table fate and was released Saturday into the Atlantic Ocean after a New York seafood restaurant granted him his freedom, according to a statement from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
George the lobster was a "sort of mascot" for City Crab and Seafood in New York.
The lobster, which PETA said was 140 years old and weighed 20 pounds, had been confined to a tank at City Crab and Seafood restaurant in Manhattan when two customers alerted the animal group.
The PETA statement did not say how the extraordinary age estimate was determined, but restaurant manager Keith Valenti told CNN that lobsters can grow a pound every seven to 10 years, and he put George's weight at 18 to 20 pounds.
"I've been here for 12 years, and that's the biggest lobster I've ever seen," Valenti said.
He said the lobster had been "sitting in the restaurant's tank and acting as a sort of mascot," but when PETA got involved and requested the release, it "seemed like the right thing to do."
PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement, "We applaud the folks at City Crab and Seafood for their compassionate decision to allow this noble old-timer to live out his days in freedom and peace.
"We hope that their kind gesture serves as an example that these intriguing animals don't deserve to be confined to tiny tanks or boiled alive."

Shedding the tight confines of his old restaurant display tank, George was driven to Maine by PETA members and was returned to his natural habitat on the ocean floor Saturday, the organization said.

Source: www.cnn.com
Jan. 10, 2009

Swerte ni George

[safeorigin]

well, it's no surprise that deep sea lobsters live that long. they have active cell regeneration throughout its lifetime albeit, they don't stop growing. their blood is also more resistant to oxidants(since salt water facilitates oxidation). well, lucky lobster then.

[blutut]

well it'll probably not know how to survive in the wild so it'll probably die hehhee

[safeorigin]

nah, at it's size, it's most likely on top of the food chain(considering its niche) and the fact that lobsters tend to "socialize", i say it has 70% chance of surviving

[altec]

top of the food chain is man. Released to the wild, until someone else that may not be that kind to wild animals catch him, and send him straight to the kitchen.

[delete250]

[SIZE="5"] PETA > People Eating Tasty Animals [/SIZE]

[pitbullz]

[SIZE="7"]
P oorly
E ducated
T een
A ctivists
[/SIZE]

im vegetarian myself and i dont kill sentient beings as well but i DONT agree with peta's methods...however,maganda yun nagawa nila kay george...pero paano yan,sa tagal nyan sa tangke baka makalimutan na nya mag survive sa wild. sana sa aquatic institute na lang...

[s_quilicot]

Source: www.cnn.com
Jan. 10, 2009

Swerte ni George

nakakatakot yung sipit nya.

[kenzie]

140 yrs old damn thas old hehehe

[Mypzi]

Would have to agree... PETA's decision would more likely kill George faster. At the very least, they should have observed how he'd manage in 'the wild' first; slowly re-introducing him to his instincts, while half supporting him for the first few..

Poor George...

[renzo_d10]

go george!

[beereo]

I am of the opinion that some of PETA's actions are plain hypocrisy. Why will you bother to have a lobster freed? Is it for the purpose of getting media attention? Why do PETA members in our country hire local artists to get undressed and then cover themselves with vegetables? Having women undressed just to support a hypocritical advocacy is a blatant exploitation of women!