Beloved Octopus 'Ghost' Captures Hearts at Aquarium

Los Angeles, Sep 12 (AP) An octopus nearing the end of her life has captured the hearts of many at a Southern California aquarium, as she dedicates her fading strength to tending to her eggs — despite the fact that they will never hatch.

Visitors to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach have shared cherished memories on social media of Ghost, the giant Pacific octopus. Some have marked their encounters with her through tattoos or by donning sweaters adorned with her likeness. "She is a wonderful octopus and has made an eight-armed impression on all of our hearts," the aquarium highlighted on Instagram.

Ghost recently laid eggs and has entered the final stage of her life, known as senescence. During this time, she prioritizes the care of her eggs, foregoing her own basic needs like eating, as she diligently protects and aerates them to ward off harmful agents.

Despite her dedication, Ghost's eggs are unfertilized and will never hatch. In nature, giant Pacific octopuses lead solitary lives, only coming together briefly to reproduce.

Nate Jaros, the aquarium's vice president of animal care, noted, “You really can't combine males and females for any period of time because they don't naturally cohabitate.” High risks of aggression or potential fatal outcomes make such pairings unviable.

Originally from British Columbia, Canada, Ghost arrived at the aquarium in May 2024 as a 1.4 kg newcomer, courtesy of a scientific collector. Today, she surpasses 22.7 kg in weight.

The average lifespan of a giant Pacific octopus is three to five years and Ghost is thought to be between two and four years old, explained Jaros.

Described as “super active and very physical,” Ghost has been fond of human interaction, showcasing her dynamic nature. Her training included voluntarily crawling into a basket for weigh-ins and diet tracking. There were instances where she would bypass offered food, just to engage further with her caregivers, Jaros shared.

Octopuses are renowned for their charisma and intelligence, allowing unique bonds to form with humans, highlighted Jaros. Ghost's caregivers kept her engaged with enrichment activities, embedding food inside toys and puzzles with movable parts, simulating the tactics she'd use to hunt live prey in the wild.

At one point, a large acrylic maze was constructed for her explorations. “She mastered it almost instantly,” Jaros said.

As Ghost resides in a private tank receiving attentive care in her final days, the aquarium has welcomed a new octopus destined to continue her role of captivating public affection and education. The new octopus, weighing 900 gm, will earn its name after displaying more of its personality. Initial observations describe it as "super curious" and "a very outgoing animal," Jaros noted.

For Marine biology student Jay McMahon of Los Angeles, seeing Ghost again prior to her senescence was meaningful. The aquarium inspired him at the age of four, setting him on a path towards marine biology. “When you make a connection with an animal like that and you know they don't live for that long, every moment means a lot,” he expressed. “I just hope she encourages people to learn more about the octopus and how important they are.” (AP) SCY SCY

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