A super rare orange lobster was saved from the seafood restaurant Red Lobster and nicknamed ‘Cheddar’ in honour of the franchise's delicious Cheddar Bay Biscuits.
The incredibly rare crustacean - one in 30 million, to be exact, was spared after employees noticed her bright orange colour resembled one of a lobster already cooked, according to 9 News.
Hmmm, not so red lobster, after all.
Cheddar came from the fishing boats of the Northern Atlantic before making her way to the Red Lobster restaurant in Hollywood, Florida.
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However, normally when fishermen spot a rare orange lobster, they are promptly thrown into the ocean, but somehow this little guy slipped through the cracks.
According to a press release issued by the seafood franchise, employees donated her to the Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, shortly after she was discovered.
Manager at the Red Lobster Mario Roque, who rallied to save the lobster, said: “Sometimes ordinary miracles happen, and Cheddar is one of them.
“A group of incredible people helped us make this possible. We are so honoured to have been able to save Cheddar and find her a good home.”
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Senior director of communications at Red Lobster Nicole Bott said she was ‘incredibly proud of Mario’ for recognising the unique sea creature and facilitating a new home for her.
She added: “It is an honour to be able to share the story of Cheddar and provide her a new home where she can be enjoyed by many for years to come, all from the safety of her tank.”
However, PETA is calling for the lobster to be relinquished from the aquarium and set free into the wild.
A spokesperson for the animal rights organisation told Delish: "Most lobsters turn a bright reddish hue after they’ve been plunged into boiling water and died in agony, but Cheddar is ruddy by nature, and she deserves to be returned to her ocean home instead of sentenced to a life of deprivation in an aquarium tank.”
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They added: “Lobsters are individuals who use complicated signals to explore their surroundings and journey 100 miles or more each year—and PETA encourages everyone to honour every lobster and other sea life by choosing to eat fish-free fillets, faux lobster, crabless cakes, and other vegan vittles."
However, ABC News reports that these lobsters can easily attract predators due to their striking orange colour, making them extremely vulnerable in the wild.
So she might be better off in the aquarium after all.
Hopefully, Pinchy has transitioned into her new home smoothly.
Charisa Bossinakis