Giant lobster Wesley lives on in our collections
The giant lobster Wesley was, at ninety years old, the oldest lobster in our country. The Institute of Natural Sciences has now added the specimen to its scientific collections.
Wesley had a long journey. The giant Homarus americanus was caught off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, and ended up at the De Oesterput restaurant in Blankenberge. There, the crustacean reached an estimated age of ninety and a remarkable weight of nine kilograms (the heaviest crustacean ever recorded was an American lobster weighing 20 kilograms). In 2019, the restaurant owner donated him to Sea Life Blankenberge so the animal could enjoy a comfortable retirement. But barely a week later, the giant lobster died. The cause of death remains unknown.
A Second Life
Sea Life donated the giant lobster to the collections of the Institute of Natural Sciences. Taxidermist Ellen Carlier first immersed the specimen in a formaldehyde solution for several months in order to stop decay and to stabilize the body. She then partially disassembled the lobster to remove the soft tissues, leaving only the exoskeleton. She recreated the missing parts, restored Wesley’s original color, and placed him in a natural pose.
Today, Wesley – named after footballer Wesley Sonck – is on display in the scientific collections of the institute. He is ready to be admired by the public in future exhibitions at our museum and beyond.
