George (lobster) facts for kids

George was a very old and heavy American lobster. He was born around 1869, which means he was about 140 years old when he became famous! George weighed about 20 pounds (9.1 kg). He was briefly owned by a restaurant in New York City before being set free in the ocean in 2009.

George's Capture Story

George was caught by fishermen in December 2008. This happened off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. He was then sold to the City Crab and Seafood restaurant. The restaurant, located in New York City, paid US$100 for him.

George arrived at the restaurant on New Year's Eve. The manager, Keith Valenti, said they bought George to attract attention. He explained that George was like a mascot for the restaurant. Kids loved taking pictures with the giant lobster. A young customer even gave him the name George. He was treated like a special pet. George lived in the restaurant's tank for about ten days.

Setting George Free

Two customers told an animal rights group, PETA, about George. PETA then asked the restaurant to release him. At first, the restaurant didn't want to. But later, the manager decided it was the right thing to do. He said it was an easy choice to set George free.

George left the restaurant and traveled to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. An expert helped him get ready for the ocean. Then, PETA members drove George to Maine. On January 10, he was released into the waters near Kennebunkport. This area was chosen because lobster fishing is not allowed there. George traveled safely in a cooler filled with seaweed and wet newspaper. A vegetarian restaurant owner named Larry Fleming helped with the trip. He believed George would be very happy back in the ocean.

Ingrid Newkirk from PETA made a statement. She praised the restaurant for their kind decision. She hoped George's release would inspire others. She said animals like lobsters deserve freedom. They should not be kept in tanks or cooked.

George's Amazing Age and Weight

George weighed about 20 pounds (9.1 kg). Experts believed he was around 140 years old. This means he was born in the year 1869! It can be hard to figure out a lobster's exact age. Scientists often guess by how much they grow after shedding their shells.

Some scientists think lobsters cannot live much longer than 100 years. However, the restaurant manager, Keith Valenti, said it's fairly common for them to live longer. PETA did not say how they calculated George's age. But Valenti explained that a lobster's age can be estimated by its weight. He said lobsters gain about 1 pound (450 g) every seven to ten years. Valenti added that George was the biggest lobster he had ever seen in his 12 years at the restaurant.

See also

• List of long-living organisms