Lucky Crayfish rescued in Sydney

It’s the ultimate tale of survival. Pinchy the crayfish was likely on his way to become someone’s dinner, but after being accidentally discarded in a dumpster in Pyrmont, and found by a thoughtful waste removal worker, he was given a second chance. Pinchy is now living his best life in a freshwater tank at the world-famous SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium.

During his routine collections last month, Matt, a Sydney-based waste removal worker, and his partner, Donna found a Styrofoam box next to a dumpster in Pyrmont and to their surprise saw a live crayfish inside! After calling SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Centre, they brought the crayfish to the aquarium, where the staff nursed it back to health and affectionately named him Pinchy.

Donna, who joined her partner on his morning waste removal rounds, commented, “It was a pretty uneventful morning until we got to Pyrmont. Matt was separating Styrofoam boxes and spotted something different about one of them, then we realised there was a creature inside. We thought it was a dead crayfish but then it started to slowly move and realised it was alive! We searched online for some advice and came across the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Animal Rescue Centre, we called them and to our relief, they offered to take the crayfish into their care.

“We hoped he’d survive, but we were ecstatic when we heard that not only had he made a full recovery, but now he was going to become a resident at the aquarium. We can’t think of a better home for the world’s luckiest crayfish!”

Daniel Sokolnikoff, Displays Supervisor at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, said, “Pinchy is one very lucky crayfish! We received a very surprising call, advising us that a crayfish has been abandoned in Pyrmont. After confirming that our permits allowed us to attend to this species, discovered under these circumstances, it was the best chance at life for Pinchy and we took him into our care.

“After his mandatory 14-day self-isolation stint in SEA LIFE Sydney’s quarantine area, and some tender loving care, we’re pleased to share that Pinchy passed his health assessment and his story has a happy ending. Pinchy now lives in one of the freshwater exhibits at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, alongside his new tankmates who include six lungfish, archerfish, spotted gars and snakehead turtles.

“I’m really pleased that Matt and Donna contacted us, especially after they told us that someone suggested throwing Pinchy in the ocean! This type of cray is called a marron and is a freshwater species, it wouldn’t have survived in the ocean.”

Pinchy’s story is unique and the staff at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium urge members of the public only to call the Animal Rescue Centre when a wild marine animal is sick, injured, or in danger. Find out more about our rescue centre in the link below

Find out more