Overview

• On July 14 a giant Pacific octopus clamped onto six-year-old Leo at the San Antonio Aquarium, requiring three staff members five minutes to remove it and leaving visible suction bruises on his arm.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent inspection found the aquarium in compliance but does not mandate specific protocols for interactive exhibits.
• Leo’s mother, Britney Taryn, filed a formal complaint with the USDA and launched an online campaign for accessible safety instructions and prominent warning signage at touch-tank exhibits.
• The aquarium has published social media videos explaining octopus behavior, highlighting suction strength and the species’ ability to lift over 300 kilograms.
• Marine experts warn that senescent giant Pacific octopuses can display unpredictable behavior, reinforcing calls for updated husbandry practices and clear visitor-interaction standards.