Rare orange lobster rescued from Florida restaurant

Employees at a Red Lobster in Hollywood, Fla., noticed the usual color of one of the lobsters shipped to the restaurant and immediately leaped into action to rescue the rare orange lobster, which is now safely living at Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach.

Because their bright color makes orange lobsters particularly vulnerable to predators, they’re extremely rare – only one-in-30 million – so Red Lobster Manager Mario Roque spearheaded the restaurant’s efforts to find a safe home for the colorful crustacean, who’s been named Cheddar in honor of Red Lobster’s popular Cheddar Bay Biscuits.

“We are incredibly proud of Mario and the team for recognizing what a special and rare creature Cheddar is and for working relentlessly to find someone to rescue her,” said Senior Director of Communications for Red Lobster, Nicole Bott. “It is an honor to be able to share the story of Cheddar and provide her a new home where she can be enjoyed by many for years to come, all from the safety of her tank.”

Cheddar joins Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach as it celebrates 25 years of welcoming guests and promoting conservation awareness. Myrtle Beach also serves as Ripley’s scientific research hub. The company’s new Marine Science Research Center – where the rare orange lobster is now acclimating – made news in March 2022 with the birth of Rip, the result of the world’s first successful artificial insemination of a sand tiger shark.

“Sometimes ordinary miracles happen, and Cheddar is one of them,” Roque said. “A group of incredible people helped us make this possible. We are so honored to have been able to save Cheddar and find her a good home.”

Click here for more information about visiting Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach.