A Seattle aquarium octopus almost escaped, all is caught on camera and of course the video has gone viral. But according to officials from the Seattle aquarium, the new octopus named Ink, was not at all trying to flee, it was exploring its environment. But most people prefer the inaccurate “octopus tries to make a run for it” version.
A Seattle Aquarium octopus almost slithered its way back into the Ocean and story makes headlines. On Wednesday, a video surfaced on YouTube and on Liveleaks that showed a young octopus trying to escape.
The clip was filmed at The Seattle Aquarium located on Pier 59 on the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle, Washington. The one-minute clip titled “Seattle Aquarium octopus Escapes” has gone viral with almost 200,000 views.
The brief footage shows an octopus trying to topple over the lid of its enclosure at the Seattle Aquarium. The octopus, which was able to get three tentacles over the rim of its tank, began to lift its body over the rim before almost falling back in the water.
The determined red mollusc attempted one more time to flee, when a staff member of the Seattle Aquarium reached up to thwart it and it slid back into the aquarium. As the octopus’ slimy tentacles dangled over the side of the tank, some in the public could be heard screaming and yelling, while others laughed at the strange situation.
Children cried out in fear and asked the adults accompanying them “can the octopus really escape?” While the older visitors mocked the poor sea creature with comments like:
“The poor thing, he really thought he was going to get away.”
And the usual:
“OMG this is so funny.”
After the Seattle aquarium octopus video made headlines, Tim Kuniholm, who works at the public aquarium with Giant Pacific Octopus species, told local media that the story was blown out of proportion.
According to Kuniholm, Ink the octopus, was not trying to escape, he was simply exploring his new home. The expert explained:
“It’s a new octopus “Ink” in a new exhibit exploring his boundaries. In the video that’s been shared by the public it’s one of our staff members helping Ink bank into his exhibit after exploring the edge.”
Many, who have viewed the video, are slamming the Seattle aquarium for keeping the marine beast in captivity. One animal lover stated:
“This saddens me. Humans are sick, disgusting, exploitative, heartless monsters.octopuses have souls, emotions and memories.”
Another added:
“This is so damn sad, the way we keep animals in small space for our own enjoyment that’s torture. It’s like we are eating them in a natrual cycle the way nature works but to do this to them is messed up and that octopus just wanted to escape and be free or die trying. As much as I like seeing animals ZOO’s are messed up and it shouldn’t exist and animals should be left alone to roam free. Poor thing.”
It was a wild week for octopuses. Benjamin Savard, who works at the science department at Middlebury College, was filming the animal when it decided to turn the camera on the scientist. Savard explained:
“The camera was automatically taking several photos of the octopus per second, but it picked up the camera and pointed it at me!”
Moments after pointing the camera at Savard, the animal tried to eat it.
What are your thoughts on the Seattle Aquarium octopus?
