Extremely rare lobster at New York grocery store was ‘too good to eat.’ See why
An extremely rare “golden” lobster was spared from a New York grocery store because it was “way too good to eat.”
Now Jerry will spend the rest of his life at Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, the aquarium’s spokesperson, Rachael Levine, told McClatchy News by email July 9.
Jerry was discovered — and named — at ShopRite of Carmel, the store said in a Facebook post.
The workers knew something was special about the lobster when they saw its orange coloring, making it one in 30 million, the store said.
Lobsters are typically greenish-brown when they are alive, and they turn bright red once cooked.
But a genetic mutation that causes “a problem within the protein during development” can change the typical color of a lobster, Levine said.
That’s why Jerry’s bright orange coloring caught everyone’s eye, and the store made a decision.
“This rare lobster that’s way too good to eat will be heading to the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. It is here he’ll live out his days bringing joy to visitors,” the grocery store said in the post.
Jerry is now one of nine rare American lobsters at the aquarium, Levine said.
The aquarium has seven that are blue, one calico and Jerry who is orange, she said.
The education team will use Jerry, and all the other lobsters, to teach “under privileged schools within a 100-mile radius,” Levine said.
Additionally, the aquarium has a “Locals” Discover Long Island Sound habitat where visitors can learn about animals found off the coast.
Mystic is about a 60-mile drive southeast from Hartford.
