'110-year-old' lobster dies on way to aquarium after being saved from the cooking pot

Larry the lobster was rescued by animal rights activists but died on the way to an aquarium
IRescue Wildlife/Facebook
Hatty Collier1 August 2016

A giant 15-pound lobster believed to be 110 years old has died on its way to an aquarium after being rescued from the cooking pot at a restaurant in the US.

The huge crustacean, who had been named Larry, was being transported from a restaurant in Sunshine, Florida to Maine when it passed away during the 1,530-mile journey.

It had been rescued from the dinner plate by animal rights activists but staff at the West Boothbay Harbour discovered it had died when they unpacked it.

Larry, who weighed three times the size of an average lobster, had travelled inside a Styrofoam box with seaweed and freezer gel packs.

The lobster weighed three times more than one of an average size 
IRescue Wildlife/Facebook

A rescue group had stepped forward to save the lobster after the restaurant owner called a TV station in Florida last week to show off the lobster's unusual size.

The lobster was headed for the stock pot after a man saw him in the tank at the Fish Tin seafood restaurant in Sunrise, bought him from chef Joe Melluso and reserved a table for his family the following week.

Larry the lobster was packaged inside a styrofoam box 
IRescue Wildlife/Facebook

But the animal rights activists intervened and arranged for Larry to live out his natural life in the aquarium.

Mr Melluso said he had bought the lobster from a vendor and was “astounded” by his size.

Amir Rossi, who helped in the effort to save Larry, told local media the stress of the journey may have contributed to his death.

"We're all disappointed with the situation," he said.

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