George the Lobster

George the Lobster was released into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Maine in January 2009. He had been living in a tank at City Crab and Seafood, a restaurant in New York City, until activists from PETA intervened on his behalf. The restaurant agreed to hand him over after realizing his advanced age sparked public outcry.

Based on his massive weight, marine biologists estimated George the Lobster to be around 140 years old. While it is difficult to precisely age a lobster, the 20-pound mark generally indicates a century or more of growth. This means George was likely born long before the Titanic sank.

George weighed nearly 20 pounds, making him one of the largest lobsters ever recorded in New York restaurant history. A typical lobster caught for food weighs between one and three pounds. Because of his massive size, he was kept as a promotional mascot in the restaurant's window display rather than being served.

While George was carefully transported in a cooler and released into a rocky, coastal area of Maine, his ultimate fate is unknown. Scientists are unsure if older, massive lobsters are able to successfully adapt to the wild after living in captivity. The cold waters and protected release site gave him a strong chance to survive his twilight years.