Texas Aquarium Defends Octopus After It Left 6-Year-Old Boy Covered in Bruises— and Claims Mom ‘Leaned’ Him Over Barrier

The San Antonio Aquarium faced criticism after a 6-year-old boy was left with bruises on his arm from an encounter with a giant Pacific octopus. The incident, which took place on July 14, was brought to light through a viral TikTok video shared by the boy’s mother, Britney Taryn. Taryn described how the octopus wrapped itself around her son Leo’s arm and refused to let go, causing distress to both the boy and his friend who witnessed the incident.

Following the incident, the San Antonio Aquarium issued a response to address the situation. A representative for the aquarium emphasized that the safety of guests, staff, and animals is their top priority. The octopus exhibit, not classified as a touch tank, features a 1,000+ gallon habitat with a tall barrier designed to ensure the safety of both visitors and the animal. According to the aquarium’s statement, visitors would need to lean over the enclosure wall and reach approximately 24 inches down to interact with the octopus.

The aquarium spokesperson clarified that the boy’s interaction with the octopus was a result of the child being leaned over the exhibit barrier by his parent, allowing him to reach into the habitat unsupervised by staff. The behaviour displayed by the octopus towards the boy was described as typical and curious rather than aggressive or harmful. Aquarium staff promptly intervened to ensure the child’s safety during the interaction and affirmed that the giant Pacific octopus is well-cared-for and poses no threat to guests or staff.

In response to the aquarium’s statements, Taryn refuted the claims made by the institution regarding her actions during the incident. She expressed disappointment in the aquarium’s response, calling it false and potentially defamatory. Taryn highlighted that no medical attention was offered to her son, and she was not asked to complete an incident report as alleged by the aquarium. She also mentioned the absence of staff supervision in the exhibit area, raising concerns about the lack of oversight in visitor-animal interactions.

Furthermore, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) weighed in on the matter, advocating for the release of the giant Pacific octopus from the aquarium. In a statement released on August 1, PETA condemned the exploitative nature of animal encounters at such facilities, citing risks and injuries that may arise from forcing animals like octopuses to interact with humans in unnatural settings. PETA called for the octopus’s relocation to its natural habitat or an accredited facility to ensure its well-being and peaceful existence.

Ultimately, the incident at the San Antonio Aquarium has sparked discussions about animal welfare, visitor safety, and the ethical considerations surrounding wildlife interactions in captivity. It serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible tourism and the need for adequate measures to protect both animals and guests in zoological environments. As the parties involved continue to engage in dialogue and address concerns raised by the incident, the focus remains on promoting respectful coexistence between humans and animals in educational settings.