After a daring escape from the New Zealand National Aquarium, Inky the Octopus is now being referred to as the ‘Houdini of Octopi’.
A few months back, staff arrived at the aquarium one morning and noticed that Inky had left the building.
All that remained was a trail from his cage to a nearby drainpipe.
“There was a wet streak across the floor in the direction of a drain pipe which went out to the Pacific Ocean,” Napier City Council communications manager Robyn McLean said.
In a scene straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster, it is believed that one of his handlers left the lid to his enclosure slightly ajar. The eight-armed creature slipped out of his cage, slid a few feet across the floor to a drain pipe, which connected to the Pacific Ocean.
It’s believed Inky made his way to open water.
WATCH: Giant Octopus tries to make off with scuba diver’s camera
“Maybe he heard about one of the stars of Pixar’s upcoming film, Finding Dory, is an octopus called Hank, who is apparently an excellent escape artist too,” McLean explained.
Local officials provided photos of the route they believe he took to freedom.
While the opening may not be that large, octopuses are extremely flexible, according to aquarium manager Rob Yarrall.
“As long as its mouth can fit,” Yarrall told New Zealand website Stuff.co.nz.
“Their bodies are squishy but they have a beak, like a parrot.”
WATCH: Raw video: ‘ghost octopus’ discovered, scientists believes it’s a new species
While octopuses are known for being escape artists, Yarrall was still surprised the octopus pulled off his Shawshank Redemptionesque escape.
“Inky really tested the waters here,” he told the Guardian. “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.”
Inky did not have a lengthy stay at the aquarium as he was donated in 2014 after he was found in a crayfish pot.
He was scarred and “rough looking”, with shortened limbs, Yarrall told the Guardian. “He had been living on the reef and fighting with fish so he wasn’t in the best shape.”
Yarrall said officials will not be staging a manhunt for the missing mollusk nor will they be looking for a replacement although if another octopus were to be donated, they would be happy to provide a home.
“You never know,” Yarrell said. “There’s always a chance Inky could come home to us.”
Comments