Big Dee-Dee’s Big Adventure
Big Dee-Dee and an average-sized lobster. (Photo: TheStar.com)
By now, you’ve probably heard of Big Dee-Dee. If not, let me enlighten you. Big Dee-Dee is a recently-caught, century-old lobster that weighs 10-kg. That’s close to twenty times the size of a lobster you’d get in a restaurant! Denis Breau, the owner of a fish store in Shediac, New Brunswick, has finally decided Big Dee-Dee’s fate. Despite $5000 being offered to serve the lobster at a banquet here in Ontario and $1000 by a group in Vancouver wanting to set the creature free, the crustacean will be donated to the aquarium at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews, N.B.
Seeing the photo of Big Dee-Dee got me thinking about the most impressive animal I’ve ever seen. I can’t decide between the imposing elephants, the elegant-necked giraffes or the 5 metre-long crocodiles I saw in Kenya. I witnessed all these animals from the safety of a Land Rover, though. In Costa Rica, I laid eyes on smaller caymans but was in an open boat, so the danger - whether real or perceived - was perhaps more palpable. But then, nothing says impressive like travelling over Moroccan sand dunes on the back of a camel. That was pretty memorable, too!
What’s the most impressive animal you’ve ever seen? Was it in nature? At a zoo? In a museum? What was striking about it? Have your say by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link below. Today’s bonus code is BIGDEEDEE. It will continue to impress Jack Nation members until July 23rd, then after that, not so much.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I got bit by a black fly once. I mean, it’s not an giraffe or a camel but still, it really itched.
Carly’s Note: Did you bite back?
July 21st, 2008 at 8:05 pm
I haven’t had the opportunity to be around many exotic animals, but my cockatoo has won several best in show ribbons. Are you a bird fan Carly?
Carly’s Note: I like peacocks myself.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Can you guess which animal I will select?
I was given the nick by my mentor many years ago, but had never seen a wombat for about 20 years. I visited a friend in San Diego so we went to the zoo there to see one, and I have to admit I became more impressed. Think of a small furry bull dozer running you down.
On the same visit my friend met an Echidna for the first time which was impressive.
If one visits Disney World in Orlando, at Epcot they have Manatees in the rehab centre.
Still Wombats Rule
m^*^m
Carly’s Note: I remember hearing the word “mongoose” as a child and thinking it sounded intimidating, like a wolverine. I saw some in Kenya last summer and laughed because they’re not scary at all. Mind you, I also thought that about the piranhas I saw at the Quebec Aquarium, but I don’t think I’ll go for a swim with any anytime soon.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:26 am
Hi Carly,
When i was a kid we were deep sea fishing in Florida and when we got back somebody in one of the other chartered boats had snared a shark. We got to touch it as it hung on the hook by the dock. Felt rubbery.
Somebody in our boat caught a barracuda too which looked pretty scary.
Another time when i was about 9 or 10 i went to the African Lion Safari and saw lions, tigers, giraffes and elephants. That was pretty cool.
During my honeymoon in Hawaii my wife swam with the dolphins as i took photos and videos.
Finally, dinosaurs were always of interest to me so the skeletons of the T-Rex at the ROM were always a favorite of mine too.
Have a great day.
Carly’s Note: I saw a barracuda while snorkeling in Cuba. Luckily, I didn’t know what it was at the time or I might have panicked. I just thought it was odd that this large, silvery fish was swimming with all the small, colourful ones. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:36 am
I have to say that the Metro Toronto Zoo is impresive itself. Currently I am impressed with the Great Barrier Reef that they have going on. The Jelly fish and the sea horses are something to see. I always try to get me and the family out to the zoo once a season.
Carly’s Note: I’m always fascinated by seahorses. They’re so exotic and it’s cool to watch them just float around effortlessly.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:56 am
Hi Carly
WOW, you have had such exciting times travelling to all those exotic places.
My most exotic travel is visiting Newfoundland.
There I saw an 80 ft whale.
Alas, it was caught in a fishermans net and had to be destroyed.
But is it ever a huge mammal when you see it up close.
Hope to see some more this summer, but alive and swimming in the ocean.
Doing a great job Carly with Jeff gone.
Hope you have a good vacation…it is well deserved.
Gary
Carly’s Note: Thanks, Gary! I’ve seen orcas and belugas, but no whales as big as you described. That would be something to see.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:56 am
Forgot about one. At a Jr. Hockey game they had a Siberian Tiger, and trainer come in. They were raising funds to help the tigers. They had a draw for people to have their picture taken with the tiger, my friend won, not only did she get a picture, but I guess the Tiger liked the way she smelled, because he turned and gave her a big Tiger Kiss. She told me tiger breath is not fun.
Wombat
m^*^m
Carly’s Note: That’s a little too up close and personal with a tiger for me. I like to observe from a distance.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I’m not mature enough to own a computer. I’m throwing this thing in the trash immediately.
Carly’s Note: You just need a good editor and I’m happy to oblige.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
BFF Shelley’s fainting goat (she named it Pablo, lol) although I’ve never seen it hit the deck, but I’d like to make it faint. Her hubby does it all the time and she gets PISSED at him, I told her it’s part of their genetic make-up, otherwise it would be dead for real. She says oooooh, it’s so hard on it’s heart. No it’s not…Evil thing, she’s treated it like a puppy ever since it was a wee goat (what are baby goat’s called? mini-trash-compactors?)…and it pupped on the front veranda like the little deer in Open Season - imagine how hard I laughed when I saw that scene. It intimdates the other animals in the menagerie with his horns. And her 2 sheep went to Sealy heaven. I’ve got my eye on him, I think he did it.
Beast…
Carly’s Note: I feel sorry for Pablo! Don’t make him faint unnecessarily, poor little dude. Baby goats, by the way, are called “kids”.
July 24th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I knew that…just couldn’t think of it at the time, lol…don’t feel too sorry for him, he uses his horns on the other assorted animals in the menagerie. He uses them to intimidate the rabbits. He’s so spoiled and he shows it, he’s like the Paris Hilton of livestock
Carly’s Note: I figured you knew.
I just think it’s strange that that is the word we use for young humans - not puppies or kittens or faols or cubs or lambs - “kids”. We use it so freely that we don’t even think about it.