Obama pardons Thanksgiving turkey in annual tradition
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US President Barack Obama laughs with his daughters Sasha and Malia as he pardons National Thanksgiving Turkey, Cobbler, in The Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
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US President Barack Obama shakes hands with White House visitors after carrying on the Thanksgiving tradition of saving a turkey from the dinner table with a "presidential pardon," on Wednesday, Nov 21, 2012, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. -- PHOTO: AP
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US President Barack Obama speaks as he takes part in the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon on Nov 21 , 2012 at the White House in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Cobbler is seen before being pardoned by US President Barack Obama ahead of the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon on Nov 21 , 2012 at the White House in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
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President Barack Obama walks with daughters Sasha, right, and Malia, left, to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov 21, 2012, after a ceremony giving a "presidential pardon," to a turkey in the Rose Garden. -- PHOTO: AP
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US President Barack Obama laughs with his daughters Sasha (centre) and Malia in the Rose Garden of the White House during the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon, Nov 21, 2012 in Washington, DC, with the turkey Cobbler. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Sasha Obama, right, pets Cobbler a 19-week old, 40-pound turkey, as he is pardoned by President Barack Obama on the occasion of Thanksgiving, Wednesday, Nov 21, 2012, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. -- PHOTO: AP
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US President Barack Obama, with daughters Sasha, centre, and Malia, right, carries on the Thanksgiving tradition of saving a turkey from the dinner table with a "presidential pardon," in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov 21, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
US President Barack Obama laughs with his daughters Sasha and Malia as he pardons National Thanksgiving Turkey, Cobbler, in The Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
US President Barack Obama shakes hands with White House visitors after carrying on the Thanksgiving tradition of saving a turkey from the dinner table with a "presidential pardon," on Wednesday, Nov 21, 2012, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. -- PHOTO: AP
US President Barack Obama speaks as he takes part in the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon on Nov 21 , 2012 at the White House in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
Cobbler is seen before being pardoned by US President Barack Obama ahead of the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon on Nov 21 , 2012 at the White House in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
President Barack Obama walks with daughters Sasha, right, and Malia, left, to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov 21, 2012, after a ceremony giving a "presidential pardon," to a turkey in the Rose Garden. -- PHOTO: AP
US President Barack Obama laughs with his daughters Sasha (centre) and Malia in the Rose Garden of the White House during the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon, Nov 21, 2012 in Washington, DC, with the turkey Cobbler. -- PHOTO: AFP
Sasha Obama, right, pets Cobbler a 19-week old, 40-pound turkey, as he is pardoned by President Barack Obama on the occasion of Thanksgiving, Wednesday, Nov 21, 2012, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. -- PHOTO: AP
US President Barack Obama, with daughters Sasha, centre, and Malia, right, carries on the Thanksgiving tradition of saving a turkey from the dinner table with a "presidential pardon," in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov 21, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
WASHINGTON (AFP) - United States President Barack Obama "pardoned" two turkeys Wednesday ahead of the annual Thanksgiving holiday, when Americans dine on millions of the fattened fowl.
"They say that life is all about second chances," Mr Obama told reporters gathered at the White House Rose Garden for the yearly ceremony. "This November I could not agree more."
The symbolic reprieve means the lucky birds - Cobbler and understudy Gobbler - won't end up on the dinner table but will instead live out their days in a custom-made enclosure on George Washington's estate in Mount Vernon, Virginia, the White House said.
Both are 19 weeks old and weigh about 18kg.
