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How Inky the Octopus Outsmarted the Aquarium

Image of an octopus underwater

Inky, a common octopus living at New Zealand’s National Aquarium, made a daring escape in 2016. One night, he slipped through a small gap at the top of his tank. 


By morning, all that remained was a wet trail across the floor that ended at a drainpipe leading to the ocean. Octopuses can squeeze through openings barely larger than their beak, and Inky used that skill to slip back into the sea.


His escape sparked global fascination and even helped fuel the growth of dedicated online communities and fan-clubs celebrating his clever jailbreak.

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