Inky The Octopus Makes Daring Escape From Aquarium

An octopus living in a New Zealand aquarium has made a daring dash for freedom and is now believed to be roaming in the Pacific Ocean. Inky the octopus apparently took the opportunity to escape through a small gap in the enclosure he was being housed in at the National Aquarium in Napier. Remarkably Inky was able to squeeze himself out through the gap and then slide across the floor to a drainpipe that is 15cm wide which fortunately for him, ends up in the sea. Rob Yarrall who manages the aquarium said that following maintenance work, the lid of the tank was left ajar.

“He managed to make his way to one of the drain holes that go back to the ocean and off he went – didn’t even leave us a message,” Mr. Yarrall said in an interview with Radio New Zealand.

Octopuses have amazing ability to shrink

Following the great escape members of the aquarium staff found octopus tracks which revealed the route taken by Inky to escape. The breakout happened much earlier in the year but was only reported by the zoo recently. Inky has a body which is about the size of a rugby ball but he is extremely squishy which means he has the ability to pass through what seem like impossible gaps. Even large octopus have the ability to shrink right down to the size of their mouth which is the only hard part of the species body.

First time this has ever happened

Of the two octopuses housed at the aquarium, only Inky decide to attempt an escape which leaves his buddy behind. Mr. Yarrell said the situation was most unusual and this was the first time he had ever experienced an escape at the aquarium. Now he is a little wiser he says he will be keeping a closer eye on the other octopus.