Heartbreaking! Viral Video Shows Crayfish Ripping Off Own Claw to Avoid Being Boiled Alive

A heartbreaking viral video of a crayfish’s claw ripping off while the animal clings for life to the side of a pot of boiling water has been making the rounds online.

The video of the desperate crayfish has been viewed more than a million times on social media. Originally shared on Chinese social media channel Weibo, the video was shot at a restaurant in China, one of the world’s largest producers of crayfish.

See the heart-wrenching video yourself.


Many who viewed the clip commented in support of the crayfish, hoping for the brave animal’s survival. One user said, “Don’t eat him, seeing how hard he’s trying to survive.” The user that posted the video later responded, “I let him live, I already took him home and am raising him in an aquarium.”

While this crayfish was lucky, sadly countless others are less fortunate. A similar video went viral earlier this year. Shared by Toronto Fish Save, it showed a crayfish desperately clinging to the side of a boiling pot, trying not to die.

It’s simple: No animal wants to die.

There’s nothing kind about eating crayfish or any other crustacean. Often boiled alive, these innocent beings suffer immensely. Many people believe that crustaceans and fish are incapable of feeling pain, but science tells us the opposite. A study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology reveals that crabs, lobsters, and fish do in fact all feel pain.

To make matters worse, in the United States these animals are denied even the most basic legal protections. Not a single federal animal welfare law protects crustaceans or fish. As a result, countless animals used by the seafood industry endure lives of unimaginable pain and slow, cruel deaths.

Fortunately, you don’t have to wait another minute to help stop the needless suffering of these sensitive animals. By choosing a compassionate vegan lifestyle, you can ensure that lobsters, crabs, fish, and other aquatic animals are spared senseless cruelty and death.

Ready to get started? Check out all the amazing vegan versions of seafood, such as Gardein’s fishless filets and crabless cakes. And click here for compassionate sea-inspired recipes.