Where do the turkeys pardoned by the president go?
Every year, two turkeys are selected to receive a presidential pardon in one of America's most bizarre holiday traditions. As a result, they avoid a trip to the slaughterhouse and are sent, instead, to live out their lives in the country.
On the surface, it all sounds heartwarming, but the reality is quite different.
The chosen birds tend to die prematurely despite their plush new surroundings, due to being bred for their ability to gain muscle mass quickly, rather than for long-term good health.
In 2010 and 2012, for example, both pardoned turkeys died within 12 months.
Dean Norton, who is in charge of livestock at Mount Vernon, where until recently the turkeys were sent, told CNN: "The bird is bred for the table, not for longevity... Some of the pardoned turkeys have been pretty short lived."
The National Turkey Federation has previously said: "They're not pets. They're not workhorses. They don't live that long."
The tradition goes back to 1947, when President Harry Truman "pardoned" the first holiday bird. For a few years, the turkeys were sent to a farm called Frying Pan Farm Park, then it switched to Walt Disney World and Disneyland, where they would appear in parades and be gawped at by tourists.
Mount Vernon, the former plantation home of George Washington, was used for a time, before Morven Park in Virginia was finally chosen.
In the run-up to Thanksgiving, the two birds are chosen based on appearance and temperament, then sent to a hotel near the White House for media events leading up to the event. One of them is chosen for the Rose Garden ceremony, while the other sits in reserve.
At their new home, the turkeys will be cared for by veterinarians and students of Virginia Tech’s Animal and Poultry Sciences Department.
This year's pardoned turkeys will join last year's animals, Peas and Carrots.
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