Octopus Attacks Child at San Antonio Aquarium

Summary:

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.

Action take by Born Free USA:

Notes: