Arthur Boyt is a 78-year-old man with an unusual appetite. He likes to eat roadkill.
Arthur has been dining on run-over animals for years, but this Christmas, he will be eating a farm-raised turkey for the first time just like the rest of us.
Interestingly enough, it isn’t the taste that has made him reconsider his holiday menu but rather some run-ins with the law.
As it turns out, some of the animals Arthur has scavenged in the past have not been exactly legal to collect or eat.
Conservationists approached Arthur to let him know that the sperm whale and dolphin he had reportedly eaten in the past were actually instances of breaking the law.
This year, Arthur's family will be happy to have him join them for their more traditional meal. Of course, the conservationists will also be pleased by Arthur's choice to give the roadkill a rest.
Arthur's eating habits might make him sound like a little bit of a monster, but it could actually be argued that it's the greenest method of disposal.
In the case of the sperm whale and dolphin, Arthur found their dead bodies washed up on the beach.
In nature, dead animals are usually disposed of by being eaten, thus providing energy through the food chain.
However, Arthur explains what he was told by authorities:
They said that if I ate dolphin again that I could be given an unlimited fine or six months in prison.
As far as I know if a citation washes up on the beach it is the responsibility of the beach owner to dispose of it.
If its a council beach the council have to pay for it and it can cost a lot of money. But if you eat it, surely that is disposing of it?
Arthur does the same with the animals he finds on the side of the road and has spent a lot of his life eating what he calls "exotic meats."
On a normal day, he cooks them into casseroles, stews, roast dinners, and curries.
However, for Christmas in the past, Arthur has created a more festive spread.
In the past, one of his favorite Christmas dinners was a sperm whale meat casserole with brussels sprouts.
Not your typical holiday dinner, but Arthur swears by it.
While Arthur is excited to spend time with his family this Christmas, he isn't as excited about the traditional turkey dinner.
He says, "It's not a Christmassy meat; it's a rather sad meat when you think about it."
Moreover, Arthur is saddened by the prospect that he won't be able to eat what he loves anymore.
He explains, "It may be that I never again get the opportunity to have something exotic for Christmas."
While the marine mammals are off-limits, he will likely continue to harvest roadkill like squirrels, hedgehogs, weasels, and otters found on the road.
We wish Arthur and his family a Merry Christmas, even if he can't eat his favorite meat.
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