Ultra-rare orange lobster spared from menu, released back to the sea

An ultra-rare orange lobster nicknamed Jean-Clawd Van Damme was released back into the Atlantic off Long Island this week after being found in a Tops supermarket near Rochester, New York, on Sept. 15. The discovery drew immediate attention because orange lobsters are extraordinarily rare, with estimates commonly described as a 1-in-30-million occurrence. Shopper Kyle Brancato spotted the orange crustacean in the store tank and quickly removed it from the potential menu before contacting rescue volunteers.

The lobster was kept in a cooler filled with tank water during the drive to Long Island, where volunteers coordinated a transfer to the North Shore for rehabilitation. Humane Long Island executive director John Di Leonardo oversaw the rescue and the animal’s care at his home, where the lobster recovered until it was strong enough to be released Wednesday morning. The effort culminated in a return to the ocean, a gesture the rescuer described as giving the creature a second chance at life.

The timing of the release was notable: it came just ahead of National Lobster Day on Sept. 25. Di Leonardo has argued that while the holiday is largely a marketing promotion, it underscores broader concerns about how lobsters are treated from the moment they are caught to the time they reach grocery-store tanks. He noted that lobsters often experience significant stress in captivity, with some self-mutilation or cannibalism occurring under crowded or stressful conditions. He also pointed out that many lobsters are shipped in crates or held in tanks for extended periods, sometimes up to a month, which can affect their well-being.

In detailing the rehabilitation process, Di Leonardo described spending time with the released crustaceans to ensure they were healthy and capable of surviving in the wild. He has previously described similar releases in which lobsters were observed as individuals with distinct personalities, sometimes lifting their claws in a defensive gesture or swimming away cautiously before resuming natural behavior. The rescuer urged retailers that would like to support similar pardons to contact Humane Long Island, noting that several Long Island stores have previously participated in similar efforts, including Northport Fish & Lobster, Stop and Shop locations in Southampton and Syosset, and ShopRite of Bay Shore.

The episode also touches on a broader public-facing conversation about the humane treatment of lobsters. Di Leonardo pointed out that some countries have banned boiling lobsters alive because of concerns about suffering, highlighting a global awareness of animal welfare that contrasts with traditional commercial practices in the United States. While orange coloration does not imply any difference in flavor, it underscores the diversity of color morphs that can appear in the species.

Long Island’s ongoing outreach and rescue work reflects a broader commitment to wildlife welfare and humane handling standards for aquatic animals. The 1-in-30-million orange lobster’s survival underscores the fragility of rare color morphs and the potential for human intervention to alter a single animal’s trajectory. As National Lobster Day approaches, advocates like Di Leonardo hope the story will spark renewed attention to ethical treatment across the supply chain and encourage more retailers to participate in rescue and release initiatives rather than stocking sensational specimens for display or sale.

For those following the broader science and wildlife context, the case highlights how rare genetic variants arise in marine life and why rescue efforts can provide immediate conservation value, even when the ecological benefits may be nuanced. It also illustrates how individual acts of compassion can intersect with public curiosity and mainstream media, bringing attention to ongoing debates about marine life welfare, sustainable fishing practices, and humane treatment both in fishing and retail environments.

The orange lobster returned to the Atlantic this week near Long Island after spending time in rehabilitation, and while such cases are exceptional, they contribute to a growing body of practice surrounding the humane treatment of aquatic life in the consumer supply chain. As wildlife rescue organizations continue to advocate for better handling, the incident serves as a reminder of the connection between upstate grocery aisles and coastal ecosystems that receive displaced animals back into their natural habitats.