Rare One-in-30-Million Orange Lobster Rescued by Red Lobster® Finds New Home at Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

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Jul 12, 2022, 10:00 ET

A nod to the restaurant's iconic Cheddar Bay Biscuits^®, this unique lobster has been affectionately named Cheddar

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- There was something obviously very different about one of the lobsters shipped to a Red Lobster^® restaurant in Hollywood, Florida. Employees at the restaurant immediately noticed the beautiful, bright orange color of the lobster, and they went on a mission to rescue the unique crustacean. Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach answered the call and happily welcomed the extraordinary orange lobster to her new home this week.

Mario Roque, a manager at Red Lobster® in Hollywood, Florida, led the effort to find Cheddar, the rare one-in-30-million orange lobster, a new home at Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

The Red Lobster and Ripley's Aquarium teams affectionately named the orange lobster Cheddar in a nod to the restaurant's beloved Cheddar Bay Biscuits^®. Cheddar will be forever protected in the safety of her new habitat at Ripley's. Orange lobsters like Cheddar are extremely rare – one-in-30 million – because their bright, unusual coloring makes them very attractive to predators.

"Sometimes ordinary miracles happen, and Cheddar is one of them," said Mario Roque, a manager at Red Lobster who led the rescue of Cheddar. "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."

"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 Nicole Bott, Senior Director, Communications at Red Lobster. "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 a major milestone – 25 years of welcoming guests, making memories, and promoting an awareness of conservation. Myrtle Beach is also Ripley's hub for scientific research. The company's new Marine Science Research Center, where Cheddar is now acclimating, made waves earlier this year by producing the world's first successful birth by artificial insemination of a sand tiger shark.

To learn more about Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, visit www.ripleyaquariums.com/myrtlebeach.

Media Contacts

Sabrina Sieck
Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach
(407) 450-1516
[email protected]

Nicole Bott
Red Lobster
[email protected]

About Ripley Entertainment
Built on the foundation of a daily newspaper cartoon in 1918 — still in print today — Ripley Entertainment has grown to be a world leader in family entertainment, expanding to include more than 100 attractions in 10 countries around the world. Along with Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, Guinness World Records Attractions, Aquariums, WaxWorks, traveling shows, and miniature golf, the world of Ripley's continues to grow through exciting new experiences, content, and books for all ages. Learn more about Ripley's Believe It or Not! by visiting Ripleys.com and following on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

About Red Lobster Seafood Co.
Red Lobster is the world's largest and most-loved seafood restaurant company, headquartered in Orlando, Fla. With a proud heritage and an even brighter future, Red Lobster is focused on serving the highest quality, freshly prepared seafood that is traceable, sustainable and responsibly-sourced. To learn more about Red Lobster's sourcing standards and where the seafood we serve comes from, please visit www.redlobster.com/seafoodwithstandards. Red Lobster is also proud to be an employer of choice, including being named to Forbes magazine's 2022 lists of America's Best Large Employers and Best Employers for Diversity. To learn more about Red Lobster, including locations and menu options, please visit http://www.redlobster.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok.

SOURCE Red Lobster Seafood Co.