“Liberty, a 45-pound (17kg) turkey poses after US President Barack Obama pardoned the National Thanksgiving Turkey during ceremonies at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, DC, November 23, 2011. Each Thanksgiving, the President “pardons” a hand-selected turkey, sparing the bird from someone’s dinner table and ensuring the rest of its days are spent roaming on a farm or petting zoo. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)