Each Thanksgiving at the White House the US president publicly pardons two turkeys that were destined for dinner tables and sends them into a luxurious retirement.
But it has emerged that all eight of the birds so far pardoned by President Barack Obama have already died, and only one of them lived to see a second Thanksgiving.
The first two birds spared by Mr Obama in 2009 were sent to live at Disneyland and the following six, including last year's pair named Cobbler and Gobbler, went to the former home of George Washington at Mount Vernon.
But because the birds, some of them weighting up to 45 pounds, had been bred large for eating they endured health problems and did not last long despite their five star surroundings.
Mr Obama is set to pardon two more Thanksgiving turkeys this week. At the pardoning of Cobbler and Gobbler last year, attended by his daughters Sasha and Malia in the White House Rose Garden, he said: “From here these two lucky birds will be swept up in a whirlwind of fame and fortune that will ultimately lead them to Mount Vernon, where they will spend their twilight years in the storied home of George Washington.” » | Nick Allen, Los Angeles | Saturday, November 23, 2013
