Overview

• The aquarium asserts the giant Pacific octopus’s grip was typical exploratory behavior and occurred after the boy was leaned over a tall barrier without staff supervision.
• Britney Taryn rejects the aquarium’s version as false and defamatory, saying her son received neither medical aid nor an incident report after being left with suction bruises.
• Cephalopod experts note Cthulhu is in senescence, which can cause clingy or erratic actions, and confirm the facility passed its latest USDA inspection.
• PETA and other animal-welfare advocates are urging the octopus’s removal from interactive exhibits and relocation to a rescue or accredited institution.
• Policy experts and parents are calling for clearer safety protocols and AZA-level accreditation standards for touch-tank encounters at public aquariums.