A six-year-old boy, Leo, was allegedly assaulted by an octopus at a hands-on exhibit at the San Antonio Aquarium, as reported by his mother, Britney Taryn. Taryn shared her account of the incident on the social media platform, TikTok, claiming that the octopus in the touch-tank section of the aquarium clung to her son’s arm, resulting in severe bruising from the creature’s suction cups. The incident occurred on July 14.
Taryn detailed the event, explaining that the octopus began to emerge from its glass enclosure. With no staff members nearby, she and a friend started to call for assistance. When an employee finally arrived, he remarked on the octopus’s playful demeanor but had difficulty detaching the creature from the boy’s arm. It required the combined efforts of three aquarium staff members over a span of five minutes to release Leo from the octopus’s hold.
The aftermath of the incident left Leo with deep, purple bruises from the suction cups, extending from his wrist to his armpit. Taryn posted pictures of the injuries on her TikTok account. She pointed out that during their previous visits to the touch-tank, an aquarium employee was typically present to supervise interactions with the octopus.
Following the incident, Taryn lodged an animal welfare complaint with the United States Department of Agriculture. She alleged that Leo suffered extensive suction cup bruises and that the aquarium staff on-site minimized the severity of the incident.
On her TikTok account, Taryn posted a video of a handler at the San Antonio Aquarium struggling with a disobedient octopus that clung to her arm. In the video, the handler explained that octopuses are naturally inquisitive and have a venomous beak, adding that the octopus could bite her if it chose to.
The San Antonio Aquarium’s website advertises an “Animal Encounters” exhibit where children can interact with a variety of animals, including octopuses. The website encourages visitors to hand-feed some animals and pet them with a gentle two-finger touch on their back.
Taryn clarified that she does not seek revenge against the octopus but is worried about the safety of children visiting the aquarium. She voiced her concerns about a similar or worse incident occurring in the future and suggested that the octopus be relocated to a sanctuary where it can live out the rest of its life undisturbed. The San Antonio Aquarium has not yet responded to requests for comment.