Search Exotic Incidents Database

SAN ANTONIO, TX – A mother has stated that a giant Pacific octopus attacked her 6-year-old son on a visit earlier this month to the San Antonio Aquarium. The alleged attack took place on July 14 when mother Britney Taryn visited the Leon Valley aquarium with her son Leo. In a TikTok video, the mother said she and her son are regulars at the aquarium, which features an open-air touch tank, where guests can touch the octopus without supervision.

The pair had been visiting the octopus, named Cthulhu, for three years. On a July 14 visit, her son put his hand in the tank, and Cthulhu’s tentacles wrapped around Leo and he refused to let go. After aquarium employees applied ice to the octopus, stunning the animal, he let go of Leo’s arm. Leo apparently suffered from suction cup bruises on his arm from the encounter.

San Antonio Aquarium officials didn’t respond to the Current’s inquiries about whether the exhibit is still open to the public and whether the behavior is common for the octopus. In a TikTok posted by the San Antonio Aquarium, a handler says giant Pacific variety is the largest species of octopus and has a poisonous beak. The species are also known escape artists, which is why they’re usually not kept in open air tanks.

It’s not the first time the San Antonio Aquarium has come under scrutiny. The attraction, which opened in 2014, is owned and operated by Crystal Covino, whose husband, Ammon Covino, was convicted in 2013 of conspiring to buy illegally harvested marine animals.

KANSAS CITY, MO – The Kansas City Zoo is mourning the loss of 36-year-old orangutan Rufus.

He had lived at the Zoo for over two decades and passed on Saturday due to a chronic heart condition. Rufus was a father figure and playmate to orangutans Josie and Kalijon.

PROVIDENCE, RI – A zebra died in “a tragic accident” at a Rhode Island zoo after apparently panicking during a storm. The plains zebra, named Samantha, collided “with a fence in her holding area” during the July 3 storm and was killed instantly, Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village said in a July 7 post on Facebook.

The other zebras at the zoo, Tundra and Zipper, “are being closely monitored by our animal care and veterinary teams as they adjust to this sudden loss,” according to zoo officials. Samantha came to the zoo in Providence in 2003 and was 24 years old, the zoo said. After the accident, she underwent a necropsy, which “confirmed that she passed instantaneously.”

SWANSBORO, NC – An African serval kept as a pet in Swansboro, North Carolina, has escaped. Kenai’s owners are actively searching for him every night. Kenai was last spotted around 4 p.m. Friday afternoon, about three miles from his original location.

UPDATE: Kenai was found in the evening hours on Friday and relocated to be with his owners.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, MO – Sheriff’s deputies in Franklin County shot and killed three bison Tuesday after the animals escaped a nearby corral and injured one of their owners. Franklin County Sheriff Steve Pelton said the bison were approaching the community of St. Albans after escaping the nearby farm, and deputies couldn’t risk the danger to the public. Video showed the bison walking through the golf course at the Country Club of St. Albans prior to deputies responding.

TUSCON, AZ – Reid Park Zoo’s last remaining Capybara died unexpectedly this week, zoo officials announced Saturday. Hendrix died of inoperable gastrointestinal issues. His female mate, Siren, died in January.