Bubba the lobster

Bubba was a massive lobster heaved from the waters of Nantucket, Massachusetts in February of 2005. The majestic crustacean of 23 lbs was one of the largest ever recorded (though the largest lobster on record weighed 44 pounds, twice Bubba's size). Based on the fact that lobsters generally take five to seven years to grow to a pound, Bubba may have been as much as 100 years old. The general consensus amongst the scientific community, however, is that he was probably much younger, probably around 30 to 40 years old.

The fate of Bubba was disputed: members of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) argued for a grandiose return to the depths of the Atlantic, while advocates of the other PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals) alternately contended for his consumption. It was ultimately decided that Bubba would be displayed at the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on March 2. However, Bubba died the next day. While the exact cause is still unknown, foul play (i.e. steaming) has been dismissed. Marine biologists speculate that it was the result of stress accumulated from travel, or possibly an incorrect salt mixture in the water he was being moved about in.

External links

* [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/03/0302_050302_lobster.html National Geographic Photo in the News]