Inky's escape similar to a B.C. octopus's getaway
Hermoine the octopus tried to escape from Sidney, B.C.'s Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
Inky the Octopus made international headlines this week for a daring escape from captivity in New Zealand, but that escape comes as no surprise to those who study the cephalopod — and brings back memories of a foiled escape attempt in Sidney, B.C. just years ago.
- Octopus makes daring escape from aquarium to Pacific Ocean
- Giant octopus tries to escape Seattle Aquarium
In November 2013 the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre nearly lost its newly acquired octopus, Hermione.
Paula Romagosa, deputy director of the centre, said Hermione arrived at the aquarium overnight and was placed in a holding tank secured by weights and mesh.
Somehow, she managed to escape. To this day, staff don't know how she did it.
"The next morning we found her crawling around the floor exploring," said Romagosa.
She was safely put back in her tank.
Curious creatures
According to Romagosa, it is quite common for these creatures to make a run for it.
"It happens more frequently than we would like," she said, "once they figure out a way to get out, there is no stopping them."
Romagosa says octopuses are smart and curious creatures that like to explore, just like they do in the ocean when they are crawling from one tide pool in search of another.
She says they can squeeze themselves out of small spaces because they have no bones in their bodies.
With files from the CBC's On The Island and Khalil Akhtar.
To hear the full story listen to the audio labelled: Octopuses have an incredible ability to escape.