George, a 20-pound, 140-year-old lobster whose life was spared by a New York City eatery.
KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine — A 140-year-old lobster that was destined to adorn a dinner plate is back in the ocean after a seafood restaurant in New York City granted him a reprieve.
The 20-pound crustacean, named George, was returned to the wild Saturday in a rocky cove in Kennebunkport, less than a mile from the summer home of former President George H.W. Bush.
George was transported to Maine by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which had beseeched City Crab and Seafood to allow the lobster to go free.
The giant lobster had been caught off Newfoundland, Canada, and lived in the restaurant's tank for about 10 days before his release.
As long as George remains in Maine, he won't have to worry about ending his life in a pot of boiling water. Fishermen are barred from keeping lobsters that exceed the state's legal size limit.