Inky the Octopus’ Escape From a New Zealand Aquarium 10 Years Later: Everything You Need to Know
A common New Zealand octopus named Inky made headlines around the world in 2016 when he slipped out of his tank at the National Aquarium of New Zealand during the night, crossed the aquarium floor and squeezed through a narrow drainpipe roughly 50 meters long to reach the open ocean. His escape highlighted both the intelligence of octopuses and the challenges of keeping such resourceful animals in captivity.
Inky was never found. He left behind his tankmate, Blotchy, and a global audience eager to understand how one eight-armed creature outsmarted his enclosure.
How Inky the Octopus Escaped the Aquarium
Staff at the National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier had inadvertently left the lid of Inky’s tank slightly open, giving the octopus an opportunity to climb out during the night. Staff believed he then made his way across the aquarium floor and located a narrow drainpipe, squeezing through it and traveling roughly 50 meters to reach the ocean.
The drainpipe led to the waters of Hawke’s Bay, on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island. Another theory was that he squeezed into an open pipe at the top of his tank, which led under the floor to the drain.
Rob Yarrell, national manager of the National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier, told The Guardian at the time, “Octopuses are famous escape artists.”
“But Inky really tested the waters here. I don’t think he was unhappy with us, or lonely, as octopus are solitary creatures. But he is such a curious boy. He would want to know what’s happening on the outside. That’s just his personality.”
He continued, “When we came in the next morning and his tank was empty, I was really surprised,” adding, “The staff and I have been pretty sad. But then, this is Inky, and he’s always been a bit of a surprise octopus.”
Why Octopuses Are Known as Escape Artists
Aquarium officials were not entirely surprised by Inky’s breakout. They noted that octopuses are known for their curiosity, problem-solving abilities and capacity to slip through extremely small openings due to their soft bodies — a combination that makes these animals particularly difficult to contain.
Officials suggested that Inky was not necessarily trying to flee poor conditions but rather acting on instinct and exploration. Researchers who study octopus behavior offered their own explanations for what drives this kind of escape.
Alix Harvey, an aquarist at Britain’s Marine Biological Association, told The New York Times, “Octopuses are fantastic escape artists.”
“They have a complex brain,” said Harvey of octopuses, “excellent eyesight, and research suggests they have an ability to learn and form mental maps.”
Jennifer Mather, a professor in the department of psychology at the University of Lethbridge who studies the behavior of octopus and squid, told CBC News that apathy may have been a factor.
“Octopuses get bored,” said Mather. “I mean, here’s an animal that explores everything in its environment and takes everything apart if you give it a chance. A tank can be a pretty boring place.”
“Octopuses are smart, highly exploratory, very strong and their body is completely compressible because they have no fixed bones. So the result is if they want to go someplace, they will,” she added.
Why Octopuses Can Squeeze Through Incredibly Small Spaces
Octopuses have no bones at all, which gives them an extraordinary level of flexibility and control over their bodies. Unlike animals with skeletons, an octopus relies on a soft, muscular structure supported by a kind of internal hydrostatic system, allowing it to squeeze through incredibly small openings — sometimes no larger than its own eye.
This boneless design also helps them move in unique ways, from crawling along the ocean floor to jetting through the water by expelling it rapidly from their bodies. Their lack of bones not only aids in escape from predators but also makes them highly adaptable hunters, capable of reaching into tight crevices to catch prey.
What Happened to Inky the Octopus?
By the time staff at the National Aquarium realized Inky was missing, he had already disappeared into the sea, and no attempt was made to retrieve him. Inky was never found. Aquarium staff were confident the escape was entirely Inky’s own doing, pointing to the tight security at the facility and their understanding of how octopuses behave. Inky left behind his tankmate, a smaller octopus named Blotchy.
Reiss Jenkinson, exhibits keeper at the National Aquarium, said he was absolutely certain Inky was not “taken” or “stolen.”
“I understand the nature of octopus behavior very well,” he said. “I have seen octopus on boats slip through bilge pumps. And the security here is too tight for anyone to take Inky, and why would they?”
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
