Octopus named Inky's Daring Escape Highlights Octopus Intelligence
Inky, a male common New Zealand octopus, was a resident at the National Aquarium of New Zealand in 2014. The octopus, known for his engaging and curious nature, was a favourite among staff. Inky came to the aquarium battle-worn and scarred from fighting fish, but his spirit remained undeterred.
Inky's most notable feat occurred three months ago when he managed to escape from the aquarium. James Wood, a marine biologist, is not surprised by Inky's escape as he has seen many similar incidents with octopuses in his career. Inky slipped out of his tank, slithered down a drainpipe, and squeezed through a narrow pipe leading to open waters.
Octopuses are known for their remarkable brains and their ability to learn quickly. Inky was no exception. He often observed where food was coming from and used this knowledge to his advantage. His escape was traced by following a wet trail he left behind.
Octopuses are not only great escape artists but are also curious creatures. They can develop unique personalities, as demonstrated by Inky's sneaky behaviour. Behaviour like Inky's is described as sneaky, but it's just an octopus being an octopus.
Inky's story has received worldwide attention since his escape became public. Some octopuses, like one in Bermuda, have escaped multiple times to eat the inhabitants of nearby aquariums. Despite Inky's escape, the National Aquarium has no plans to replace him at the moment.
Inky was donated to the National Aquarium in Napier in 2014 by fishermen who caught him on Pania Reef. Octopuses can squeeze through small openings due to their soft, boneless bodies, making them formidable escape artists. Octopuses are active, curious, and engage with their environments, traits that make them fascinating creatures to study and observe.
Despite his escape, Inky's story serves as a reminder of the intelligence and curiosity of octopuses. They are creatures that, like Inky, can surprise us with their cunning and resourcefulness. As Wood put it, 'Octopuses are not just fascinating creatures; they are also incredibly intelligent and adaptable.'
