110-year-old lobster spared the pot

A giant lobster thought to be 110-years-old was spared the pot in Florida this week after an animal rescue group raised enough funds to save it.

Larry prepares for his long swim to freedom

The 15-pound lobster in question, named Larry, was caught last week and taken to seafood restaurant Tin Fish on Florida’s Sunset Strip. Restaurant owner Joseph Melluso was astounded by his size and excited by the trophy catch, giving him pride of place in the fish tank.

One diner reportedly took a shine to Larry and asked Melluso to reserve it for a family dinner booked at the restaurant last Tuesday night. Larry’s fate looked sealed, but as his reputation grew, so did a desire to save him.

Costa Rica-based animal activist group iRescue paid Melluso $300 to rescue Larry so that he could live out his golden years at an aquarium in Maine, where he’s likely to make friends with its 17-pound resident lobster.

The group campaigned for Larry’s rescue on Facebook with the hash tag #LobsterLivesMatter, raising enough money to fund his bid for freedom. “I’m proud of what we did – how many people can say that they saved a lobster?” said rescuer Amir Rossi.

Larry may eventually be released back into the wild. At 15 pounds he is three times larger than your average lobster. The average lifespan of a lobster is between 70-100 years, with age largely deciphered by weight.

A lobster expert told ABC News that Larry is more likely to be between 60 to 80 years old, giving him plenty of time to enjoy his retirement.